Vertical Hammers

[PNOTNR@aol.com]

I would question the economy of replacing the hammers, but not the shanks and
butts.  I suppose that the butts 'might' be good enough to reuse, but how
could the hammers be worn out, but not the butts?   Kind of like buying new
tires for a car, but not having the alignment done.

The question about replacing vertical hammers reminded me that I had meant to
ask a question earlier about hammer hanging.  The new butts I have to install
were drilled to receive the hammer shank about 1/8" further forward then the
position of the hole on the original butts.  The original hammers are 2-1/2"
from bore to strike point.  To use  replacement hammers with the same bore
length will not allow me to have the hammers strike at 90* to the string.
 And the different position of the hole in the new butts makes for a
different angle of the shank against the hammer rail.  So my new hammers
don't line up with my guide hammers.

What's the best thing to do here?  Simply use a shorter bore distance?  Plug
and redrill these butts <gulp>?  Look for other butts closer to the
originals? (There don't seem to be lots of choices here).  Is the main
concern to have the hammers strike at 90* at the correct strike point?

Gordon Large, RPT
Maine Chapter (Hosting the 1997 NEECSO Seminar in Portland, ME. May 1-4)