Dampp-Chaser threads

[Lance Lafargue]

Rob,

Where were the rods positioned?  One under the keybed?  I usually put a 50
watt under the soundboard and a 25 watt next to the lyre base under the
keybed (on the action side).  I've not had these action problems.  I see a
lot of Samicks/DH Baldwins/Kohler & Campbells.  After the damper guide
rails, keys, and action centers are eased, they usually stabilize for me. 
Greetings from Humidityville! 

Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: atonal@planet.eon.net
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Dampp-Chaser threads
> Date: Thursday, February 05, 1998 9:24 AM
> 
> Bob Anderson wrote:
> 
> > To David Pitsch: In my experience, the Dampp-Chaser system is too small
> > to control the humidity in an entire room. If you think the system can
> > affect the action in a grand, how does that work? It seems that the
> > conditioned air would either have to travel from under the rim into the
> > air of the room and from there finally into the action. Or it would
have
> > to travel through the holes in the soundboard and through the gap
beween
> > the SB and the pinblock. 
> > 
> > In my experience, I've noticed tighter tuning pins in a vertical piano
> > after adding a Dampp-Chaser system. I've never noticed any improvement
> > in a grand. Can anyone else add testimony pro or con?
> 
> I've installed many vertical and grand Dampp-Chaser systems, and both 
> systems promote tuning stability by keeping the soundboard stable. I 
> have seen enough systems in operation, over a period of years, to 
> know that they make a significant difference in this respect. 
> 	However, I have never seen any evidence that they work to keep the 
> action  regulation consistent, or keep the pinblock solid. Last week 
> I worked on a two-year old 5'8" Samick with a 50 watt 
> full Dampp-Chaser that has been installed for a year, in a large, dry 
> theatre. Prior to installing the Dampp-Chaser, the pitch would vary 
> considerably, sometimes dropping as much as 25 cents.  The hammer 
> line correspondingly dropped, and much regulation was needed to bring 
> back aftertouch and hammer letoff. This time, the pitch was within a 
> few cents flat - barely noticeable, but the regulation had dropped 
> again! This has also happened in verticals that are relatively stable 
> in pitch, but are still new and settling in in the regulation 
> department. Tuning pin tension remains fairly stable ie: tight, but I 
> don't attribute this to the Dampp-Chaser. I've worked with 
> enough Dampp-Chasers to know this isn't one of their attributes. 
> 
> 
> just my .02
> 
> Rob Kiddell, 
> Registered Piano Technician, PTG
> atonal@planet.eon.net