I'd be interested in what is done with the flushee...i.e. thinner and solids? Is it used to harden hammers? David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "Barbara Richmond" <piano57 at comcast.net> To: caut at ptg.org Received: 6/11/2009 2:05:44 PM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Getting lacquer out of hammers - follow up >Hmm, maybe it's as simple as the folks in San Fransisco have a different concept of >tone than Cincinnati Conservatory. Who knows about the plasticky stuff--is it >possible to truly identify whatever solids that are flushed out? Dunno... >Barbara Richmond, RPT >near Peoria, Illinois >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Eric Wolfley (wolfleel)" <WOLFLEEL at UCMAIL.UC.EDU> >To: "caut at ptg.org" <caut at ptg.org> >Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:06:08 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central >Subject: Re: [CAUT] Getting lacquer out of hammers - follow up >Israel, >Since last December we have received 72 new Steinway grands including 2 Ds and >20 Bs which we selected in NY. During my 4 trips to the NY selection room in the >course of a month I developed a pretty good rapport with Dirk and Terry who are >the concert technicians preparing pianos for the selection room. The official word I >got from them and others there at the factory including Kent Webb and Eric >Schandall is that each set of hammers is pre-soaked before installation in 3:1 >lacquer/acetone. The whole set is dipped for 30 seconds is what I was told. In the >later voicing operations they will apply more 3:1 acetone/lacquer to the crown if >they think it is necessary. My experience with these pianos as well as with other sets >from Steinway I have ordered and installed is that more often than not more >lacquering is necessary, especially in the high treble and bass. I don't know of any >"plasicky" stuff that is being used at Steinway. The concert techs used to use an >acetone/keytop solution applied very sparingly (2 or 3 drops) to the crown if a note >needed a bit more attack but they are now using acetone/lacquer in the same way >instead, at least at the factory. When I hear stories like yours I am always amazed >because my experience has been so different. I have had a lot of contact with the >Steinway folks at the factory over the years having taken all the Steinway Academy >classes and going there for many selections so I don't think my experience could be >seen as being isolated. I am very pleased with the hammers Steinway is making >today and am having wonderful results here at the Conservatory as well as with the >work I do on C&A pianos for the Cincinnati Symphony. It concerns me that others >might read your post and think that Steinway is sending out hammers that are >"pre-plasticked" and unusable which simply has not been my experience. >Eric >Eric Wolfley, RPT >Director of Piano Services >College-Conservatory of Music >University of Cincinnati
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