It just occurred to me that as long as we discuss sandblasting piano actions, some poor sot is going to think it is all right to blast with sand! Better, perhaps, would be to let language work in our favor, and the customer's, by referring to "Shell blasting actions" or even the weaker " Blasting actions" and just leave "sand" out of the vocabulary and the action. For technicians concerned with every hemisemidemiquaver in tuning, this change in verbal behavior might not be too great a problem. On the other hand, I have been hitting this piano all day with my "tuning hammer" and it still doesn't sound any better! Bill Simon Phoenix xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <<These statements appear to indicate that sand or glass beads are acceptable media for blasting actions. They are not! On old chairs and wrought iron fences, well - why not? But no decent mechanic would suggest that one bead blast around even sealed bearings that will remain in place, and it amazes me that anyone would suggest using blast materials that produce highly abrasive dust on actions with all their delicate centers. For clarity. I suggest action blasting be done with ground and graded almond shells, available from sandblast suppliers. Called "Shellblast", this material can be re-used for years and will not harm the action as sand or glass beads will.>>
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