hammer problems

[David ilvedson]

> From:          "pianoman" <pianoman@inlink.com>
> To:            <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Subject:       hammer problems
> Date:          Wed, 1 Oct 1997 16:40:56 -0500
> Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org

I would check the other hammers by twisting the felt a bit to 
see if they are ready to give way, which is likely.  If the 
rest of set is OK I would move the hammer, shanks & flanges over 
to fill in the bad spots.  Then use treble hammers to fill in 
the top.  You will probably need to hang a new set of hammers.  
I would call the other tech and see whose hammers those are.  I 
would try calling the manufacturer and see what they might 
offer. 

David ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA


> Dear list,
> Just came back from a client that I just tuned for last Friday. (Howard
> Gr).  I have been tuning for them since January ,1990.  On Saturday I got a
> call from them saying that 1 note was not working.  Got there today and
> pulled the action.  3 hammers have unglued felt from the striking point to
> the back tail.  The unglued felt was catching on the damper wire so that
> was why the note wasn't working.  The person who replaced the hammers for
> them (just before 1990) is a tuner-tech-friend-competitor.  The hammers
> were replaced but not the shanks.  Where the shank comes through the hammer
> tail has not been filed flush with the tails.  I am surprised the
> backchecks had not worn through.  This person has always done high quality
> work so I'm not sure if he actually did the work or paid someone else to do
> it.  Anyway I told them that this length of time would be passed any type
> of guarantee.  I have already told them (an elderly couple) that the tone
> quality on these 3 notes would not be matching the surrounding notes.  
> Question 1.  What glue would you use to glue these hammers back together?
> Question 2.  Any ideas on clamping these hammers back together in a
> workmanlike manner?
> Question 3.  I told them that probably there may be more coming loose in
> the future and not to be surprised.  They look like Schaff's Standard
> Hammers (red inner reinforcing no outer reinforcing and small staples in
> top and bottom.)  Am I wrong?
> I will wait till the weekend to decide on the course of action.  Thank you
> in advance for your thoughts.
> James Grebe
> R.P.T. from St. Louis
> pianoman@inlink.com
> "Do it because it is right"
> 
>