New Steinway Hammer replacement

[David Love]

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You are biting off a fair bit to have this concert ready by 8/14.  There =
are many things you need to consider especially since this piano will be =
used for concert work.  It's hard to know where to begin because I don't =
know what you know.  But you should be careful to consider knuckle =
dimension of the shanks and hammer weight in a piano of that vintage. =
Using NY improved parts (if you are) may work but may not depending on =
how the action is set up.  You should be prepared to make an assessment =
of the overall action ratio as it relates to the new hammer weights when =
selecting the proper knuckle placement.   There are other considerations =
as well. =20

As far as voicing with lacquer goes, there was a long discussion a =
couple of weeks ago on the list between Bill Ballard, Dale Erwin and me =
on this very topic.  I think Ed Foote also made a nice summary =
contribution.  You might go into the archives and check.   Using a 3:1 =
mixture might be fine in some parts of the piano, but soaking the =
hammers top to bottom with that strong a solution may turn out to be a =
bit too much in certain areas.  You need to make this assessment at the =
piano.  Plan to follow up the initial lacquering with at least 2 visits =
before concert time.  If it takes you an hour to get there each time =
then plan for it and charge accordingly.   Don't try and take shortcuts =
due to inconvenience.   Trying to save the customer a nickel usually =
costs you a dime.=20

Depending on your experience, you may want to contract another =
technician in the area to consult with or even perform some of the work =
with you present.   You will make less on the job, but the gain in =
knowledge will benefit you in the long run.

David Love

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Arthur Chickering=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: August 04, 2002 8:12 AM
  Subject: New Steinway Hammer replacement


  Dear List,   =20
  I am putting a new set of Steinway hammers shanks and flanges on a =
1901 model A grand.  This piano is on an island off the coast of Maine =
which is an hour ferry trip one way.  This piano is used by the Fox =
Island Concert Association and they will be using this piano August 14 =
th for a solo concert.  I will not have much time to put these hammers =
on and get them regulated and voiced for this concert.  This is the =
first set of Steinway hammers I have had to replace.  I am looking for =
some help in the preparation, regulation and voicing methods that you =
use on these hammers and any methods that might speed up this job. A =
step by step guide would be very helpful so that I don't make any major =
mistakes that could waste time.  I have done several grand regulations, =
but I do not have much voicing experience and none using lacquer and =
acetone.  I was told by Kent Webb to use 1part lacquer and 3 parts =
acetone and to soak the hammers completely.  If anyone has experince =
with this method or a different method your help would be greatly =
appreciated.
  I do have the Steinway Technical Reference Guide, but I am looking for =
more specific individual methods that you have developed from experince =
with these hammers.
  I am afraid of getting these hammers too hard and have difficulty =
voicing them.

  Thanks for your help.

  Arthur Chickering
  Associate Member
  Maine Chapter

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