Dremel Tool

[Tom Cole]

Joseph

I use a regular Dremel (variable speed set to its lowest setting) and a bare sanding sleeve
(no guide) to do rough shaping of hammers. Starting at the strike point, with a light
touch, I let the drum run down the backs of the hammers (away from me; I'm
right-handed), repeating until I get the approximate shape I want. After doing the whole
set, I turn the action around and do the other shoulders.

It is important not to move the tool against the rotation of the sanding drum or else it will
want to dig in. Going with rotation, you have more control and I was able to do a
competent job on my first set of hammers. Strip sanding with medium and fine grits
finishes the job.

Tom Cole

Joseph Vitti wrote:
>
>                State University of New York at Stony Brook
>                        Stony Brook, NY
>
>                                             Joseph Vitti
>                                             Concert Technician
>                                             03-Apr-1997 02:12pm EST
> FROM:  JVITTI
> TO:    Remote Addressee                     ( _pianotech@byu.edu )
>
> Subject: Dremel Tool
>
>  Has anyone had experience with using a dremel tool (minimite cordless) to file
> hammers? I must confess that I've always placed its use on hammers in the area
> of "hack"work. I recently had a set of ugly misshaped Steinway hammers I tired
> it on. It really worked very well in "sculpting" a good hammer shape. You can
> start up on the shoulder and make a pionted shape without pulling felt from the
> bottom. If you use a file stick you'd have a really small hammer by the time
> you were finished. It's alot less work for a very good result. I still go over
> the hammer with a file stick and then with a strip to shoe shine.  I've also
> tried it while fitting hammers to the strings. Seems to work good there as
> well.
>
> Jvitti@ccamil.suny.edu
>
> .-

--
Thomas A. Cole, RPT
Santa Cruz, California