Let My Hammer Go!

[Barb Barasa]

The only time I have encountered this problem, it seems to be on
middle-aged spinets and consoles, usually  Wurlitzers in my old turf,
and upon closer examination, some of the pins seemed to have been
smushed on the top when they were pounded in.  In other words, there
was a very rough ridge as if the metal somehow gave under the
pressure of the pin punch whacking it.  Doesn't seem possible, but
that's what it looked like.  And the hammer would get hung up on the
rough edge. (couldn't have been very good for the inside of the tip,
either.)

Barb Barasa
Ashland OR

> Every couple of weeks I encounter a piano that loves my tuning hammer - that
> is, the pins seem to grab the tip so that it does not slip off easily. The
> extra motion to reach down and pull the tip loose wastes time and has to be
> done gingerly so as not to disturb the pin setting.  It does not appear to be
> associated with a tight fit, as there is usually a little wobble even so.
>  Could it be the effect of wear over the past 40 years (Hale hammer and tip
> from about 1955)?  Powdered teflon in the tip does no good.
>
> Is it in the surface characteristics of my tips + the tuning pins?  Anyone
> have a solution?
>
> Bill Maxim, RPT
>
>