Help to reduce hammer shanks

[David ilvedson]

> Date:          Tue, 20 Aug 1996 16:53:21 -0500
> From:          ATodd@UH.EDU (Avery Todd)
> Subject:       Help to reduce hammer shanks
> To:            pianotech@byu.edu
> Reply-to:      pianotech@byu.edu

> List,
>    Could someone give me some fairly explicit instructions on the best way
> to thin some new treble hammer shanks OR point me to the right spot in the
> archives or a Journal article. I've searched the archives with every
> combination of words I can think of, but no luck.
>    I'm assuming it would be best for them to be thinned. If so, how many
> should be done? How thin? Where should the thinning start/end?
>    If it makes a difference, there are 22 notes in the upper treble section.
>    I normally buy the pre-thinned shanks, but this time I'm using an old
> set and they're all the same thickness. These will be for a set of Isaac
> hammers, recommended to me by several of you, being installed on an old
> Marshall & Wendell grand.
>    Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>
> _____________________________________
> Avery Todd, RPT
> Moores School of Music
> University of Houston
> Houston, TX 77204-4893
> 713-743-3226
> atodd@uh.edu
> _____________________________________
>
>
>
Avery,

I always use my 1" belt sander and thin down one side, turn it
over and do the other side.  This is by eye but with light
pressure it doesn't cut very fast.  I usually trim the whole
set.  It doesn't weaken the shanks!   I know this isn't very
high tech, but it works for me...

David ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA