[CAUT] Chopstick tool needles?

Thu Nov 18 18:51:55 MST 2010

Susan-

We may be entering a new (old) era, with the return of Weikert and Abel Natural hammer felts.
These hammers seem to respond with less needling and few chemicals, they seem to hold the voicing longer, and to come back with a spray of rubbing alcohol and/or light brushing. Resilient. I think we'll find them lasting longer, and that voicing will be a lot easier on the wrists.
(Vodka if you prefer, but rubbing alcohol is cheaper.)

Ed Sutton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Susan Kline 
  To: caut at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 8:16 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Chopstick tool needles?

  Thanks, Ted and Marcel. It's fun to think of using needles specifically chosen for voicing work. 

  I believe I remember some altercation years ago about the damage which can be done to hammer felt with glovers needles. I like to minimize wear and tear on hammer felt to the extent practical, which is one reason I prefer one drop of vodka to needling in the top octave, where the felt is thin and heavily doped. 

  If the economy continues down its rocky slope one little collapse at a time, we might start thinking about how our work affects the longevity of parts. I sometimes wonder whether the accumulation of *stuff* in hammers, either to harden or to soften (Downy -- YUCK), lessens the variety of tone which they can produce, and also reduces their lifespan. Maybe others have some ideas about this? 

  Susan

  On 11/18/2010 4:47 PM, Edward Sambell wrote: 
    Hi Susan,

    The diameter of a #5 needle is .030" and a #6 is .027". I also use cotton darners, which are .035", but do not know the number, if any. Jurgen's web site I\is; www.pianofortesupply.com. I haven't tried glovers needles, which are triangular.

    Regards, Ted S

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    From: Susan Kline <skline at peak.org>
    To: caut at ptg.org
    Sent: Thu, November 18, 2010 6:16:03 PM
    Subject: Re: [CAUT] Chopstick tool needles?

    Hi, Don

    I keep a big needle in a pin vise for shoulders, but most of the time I 
    use the chopstick tool with a thin needle and about 1/3" exposed .. I 
    imagine 7's would do for that if I pay attention and pull it straight 
    out instead of letting it lever at an angle, which I think may be how I 
    broke the VERY tip off the old one on Tuesday.

    I should get in touch with Jurgen. I'm sure he carries some other things 
    which I might like. Does he have a website? I should already know such 
    things -- I've been sort of out of touch lately.

    Susan

    On 11/18/2010 9:23 AM, Don Mannino wrote:
    > Susan,
    >
    > Fabric stores usually sell #6 sharps, and they work.  But I really like the German ones from Jurgen.  #7 is a little thinner, and therefore weaker - but maybe that's OK if you don't make them too long.
    >
    > Don Mannino
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Susan Kline
    > Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 9:01 AM
    > To: caut at ptg.org
    > Subject: Re: [CAUT] Chopstick tool needles?
    >
    > Thanks, Diane, I'll give that a try. I need to replenish the kit before I break just one more, or need to unclog a CA glue bottle again. I go years without breaking a chopstick needle, but if I don't have a replacement with me, Murphy's Law might break one sooner than usual.
    >
    > Susan
    >
    > On 11/18/2010 8:01 AM, Diane Hofstetter wrote:
    >> Susan,
    >>
    >> I thought I would leave it for someone more knowledgeable than me, but since no one has replied, I  will take a stab at it.  #7 sharps ?
    >>
    >>
    >> Diane
    >>
    >>
    >> Diane Hofstetter
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >>
    >> ________________________________
    >>> Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:51:55 -0800
    >>> From: skline at peak.org
    >>> To: caut at ptg.org
    >>> Subject: [CAUT] Chopstick tool needles?
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> Yesterday I was voicing before a concert, and for only the second
    >>> time ever I broke the tip off the needle in my chopstick voicing
    >>> tool. I got out the needle case I keep in an old pill container in my
    >>> kit, which also luckily held the tiny allen key for the chopstick,
    >>> and I found that I had exactly one needle left in there. Plus I had
    >>> used it multiple times to open clogged CA glue bottle spouts. Luckily
    >>> when I broke it in two to make it short enough, the CA came off it.
    >>>
    >>> Anyway, years ago I had some idea which needles to buy for this kind
    >>> of voicing, but now I'm drawing a blank. I've been using a fairly
    >>> small "sharps" needle. Does anyone have any hints about what size and
    >>> type I should get? I leave about 1/3 of an inch exposed.
    >>>
    >>> thanks ...
    >>>
    >>> Susan Kline
    >>>
    >>> P.S. Tuned and voiced for Jon Nakamatsu and Jon Manasse yesterday --
    >>> what gents, what musicians!
    >>>                       
    >
    >
    >

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