Hammers

[Tony Caught]

Hi Clyde,

Yes the glue gives away too but I have seen many a hammer that has also
pulled out the T rivet as well. For 16 years I have been living in this
lovely place called Darwin and when you go to a piano in the wet, and if the
piano has not been fitted with a Dampp-chaser de-humidity system, its out
with the hair dryer to free the action (dry the wool out) drop the pitch by
25 cents in the middle section (from the bass break for maybe 15 notes then
the piano is generally close to pitch in the treble and the bass.  Do it
reasonably well but remember you are going to have to raise the pitch back
to A440 in three months so be good but don't try too hard because in an hour
whilst you have the piano open so much moisture get in that is starts
causing more sticky notes while you are sitting there tuning the piano.
(with no fan on because this makes it worse.

Now peoples, please don't tell me that the wood (maple or birch or whatever)
absorbs moisture that fast.

Maybe you guys would like me to make a non stop video of this happening on a
three year old Yamaha piano so that you have documented proof, or you could
take my word for it, or you could ask someone in Florida. They should have
the same problems in July / September.

Regards

Tony Caught ICPTG
Australia
caute@optusnet.com.au
----- Original Message -----
From: Clyde Hollinger <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2000 9:49 PM
Subject: Hammers


> Friends,
>
> I always thought hammer felt separated from the molding because the glue
lost
> its holding power, which I attributed to high humidity.  Is there a
general
> consensus?  Is the real culprit the swelling felt?
>
> Regards,
> Clyde Hollinger, RPT, Lititz, PA, USA
>
> P.S.  People around here are stocking up for a big snowstorm which is
supposed
> to arrive tonight.  Big is a relative term, I know.  They're calling for
6-12
> inches, possibly more.
>
> Tony Caught wrote:
>
> > Hi Jim,
> >
> > Hammer heads are made of lamb's wool felt (generally Australian lamb's
wool)
> > and yes, this expands with humidity, to a point where the increased
tension
> > causes by this swelling causes the hammer to lift of the wood.
Especially
> > when there are no staples holding the hammer felt into shape.  You have
seen
> > hammer heads with the felts popped off ?.  This is common in areas of
high
> > humidity.
>