Bzzzing Dampers

[Avery Todd]

Roger & List,

    Back a few years, we had a thread about this very problem.
One of the suggestions talked about was using a good pair of
electric barber's shears and trim _just_ below the string marks
on the felt. If I remember correctly, many can even be done
with the dampers still in the piano.
    I used to have all that info saved but I think I lost it somewhere
when I got a different computer at school. I also can't remember
the exact subject name. Maybe someone else does? Does
"Oinking dampers" ring a bell with anyone? Haven't had a chance
to go check out the archives yet.

Avery

At 06:58 PM 01/18/01 -0600, you wrote:
>Hi Stacy,
>                A tip to help to trim "oinking" dampers.  Take a sharp
>pencil and lightly trace a line on the protruding damper tips using the
>under side of the string as a guide. Remove dampers.
>Use a very sharp pair of surgical grade scissors to trim off excess using
>the pencil line as your guide.
>Every day common scissors will not cut it.  Pun fully intended.
>For good quality half pedaling results, it is important to remove those
>long tips. If you want some coaching come a day early for the Stan Kroeker
>hammer hanging seminar.
>Gentleman's mustache triming scissors are also repoted to be very good for
>this job, but I have never tried them. Practice on some spare felt first.
>Regards Roger
>
>
>At 12:04 PM 1/18/01 -0700, you wrote:
> >
> >
> >Kevin,
> >
> >Thanks for the ideas, I especially like your remedy for "oinking" dampers.
> >My own piano does this (it's old and crusty), now I have something else to
> >try.
> >
> >Thanks again,
> >
> >Stacy.
> >>
> >>     Buzzing Dampers......... Usually caused by the felt hanging down
> >>between
> >>the strings too far. You really have to trim them. First, you make a cut so
> >>that the material hanging below the strings is no longer there, then you
> >>make two more cuts on each half of the trichord, so that the damper ends
> >>are
> >>radiused. Then you might have to do some minor fitting. That's about it.
> >>Really nothing to be afraid of, just do it very carefully.
> >>     I also have glued a piece of 120 grit aluminum oxide sandpaper to the
> >>back of my little machinists' ruler. I use that on dampers to get rid of
> >>that crustiness that can make dampers "oink". Also, make sure that the
> >>bushing in the damper guide rail is not too loose. It's supposed to be
> >>tight
> >>enough to prevent the damper from rattling around as it seats.
> >>     Hope this helps.
> >>
> >>
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: "Stacy Adams" <adams_piano@hotmail.com>
> >>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >>Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 8:36 PM
> >>Subject: Bzzzing Dampers
> >>
> >>
> >> >
> >> > List,
> >> >
> >> > I tune a Yamaha G1 (1963) for a local piano teacher who has been
> >>complaining
> >> > of a buzzing key (D4).  It seems that the buzzing is being produced by
> >>the
> >> > damper, a trichord wedge, as the felt settles between the vibrating
> >>strings.
> >> >   The damper appears to be aligned to the strings and the dampers
> >>overall
> >> > are in decent regulation.  There are several other trichord dampers that
> >> > buzz in this manner, but to a lesser degree.
> >> >
> >> > Is it a possibility that the problem stems from the consistency of the
> >>aging
> >> > damper felt?  Could the design of the piano (trichord wedges to F4) also
> >>be
> >> > a contributing factor?
> >> >
> >> > Any ideas to cure this annoying bzzzzz would be much appreciated!
> >> >
> >> > Many thanks,
> >> >
> >> > Stacy Adams
> >> > PTG Associate
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
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> >>
> >
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