Hammer steaming

[Susan Willanger]

I have followed up on pianos where fabric softener has been used (not
sure what quantity). What a mess!
The hammers seem to attract a lot of dirt and reshaping is impossible.
After one (1) pass with the sandpaper, it clogs up and can't be used.
 Susan Willanger RPT
University of Washingtion

On Wed, 24 May 1995, William Sadler wrote:

> I being new to this conversation, have missed the boat.  Could someone send
> me the article - conversation - description - of procedure concerning hammer
> steaming?  I am intriqued.
>
> Earler in my practice (1978) I tried some downy fabric softener on a fairly
> new Steinway B that had already been needled to death.  The professor was
> kind of a nut and thought the tone was too bright. (Heaven forbid try a
> different brand - All hail the power of Steinway) Anyway, the fabric softner
> was a disaster.  The hammers puffed up alright but I recall there was a waxy
> residue left behind.  The tone became really funky.  Somwhat like muffled
> thumbtacks if you could imagine.  I paniced.  I got out of that one by
> turning the stack upside down and hosing the hammers with Acetone.  When I
> was done the piano was left with virtually no inner voicing capability.
> Dead as a doornail.  This professor loved it.  Of all the many technicians
> he had I was the only one who gave him what he wanted.  I started to recieve
> calls from his students and friends who wanted me to do the same thing to
> their pianos.
>
> There was no way I was going to repeat that experience of panic!
>
> I thought about publishing the technique of fabric softner and acetone wash
> (tongue in cheek) but I figured it would be too controversial.  I imagine
> some people would see the whole thing a big intellegent chemistry project
> designed to create proper piano tone.
>
>
> >
> William Sadler
>
>