Understring Felt and Stringing Felt (Braid)

[Gordon Holley]

Thank you Newton.  Now to find the correct blade or knife to cut the 
angle on the felt.  I assume that Schaff would have the recommended 
knife?. Regards, Gordon
On 25 Jul 2002 at 12:42, Newton Hunt wrote:

> Re: bass felt.  You will need to know how much bearing you have.  If you
> have extra bearing then you can replace this felt.  Using a rubber
> mallet you can "hammer" the felt over the pins.  If you are low on
> bearing leave this felt out.
> 
> Weave the tail ends to quiet them.
> 
> Felt between pins and bear bar is optional but I would put it in to
> quiet the segments.  Use felt, rather dense like bachcheck felt that is
> no more than 1 mm higher than the bar.  But the felt at a angle _/ so it
> snuggles up to the bar and the cut provides relief so there is no abrupt
> change in height.
> 
> 		Newton
> 
> Gordon Holley wrote:
> > 
> > List.  I'm rebuilding a Starr 5' Grand and have questions regarding
> > the felt application that WAS used in this piano in 1936 and should I
> > do anything different today.  I'm having Danny at G.C. Piano,
> > Scarsborough, Ont., make new bass strings and is rescaling the tenor
> > and treble.  The strings should be in hand in about a week so I've
> > got time to order additional felt if needed.
> > Question 1.  There was no stringing felt, interwoven, used in the non-
> > speaking lengths of the bass strings between the bass bridge and the
> > hitch pins. However, there was understring felt, with holes punched
> > in for the hitch pins, the full length of the bass mono and bi-chord
> > strings.  Should I now use stringing felt in this position?
> > Queston 2.  There was no understring felt on the tuning pin side of
> > the front bearing bar in the non-speaking length, between the bar and
> > the pins.  I've seen other grands with this application where the
> > felt, approx. 1/2" width, was snugged up to the side of the bearing
> > bar.  Again should I now use a felt here in this position.
> > Would these two felt applications, if felt was now inserted, have an
> > adverse effect on the sound.
> > I must admit, this is my first attempt of this magnitude, and I'm
> > learning.  I've refinished the soundboard, have new hammers and
> > shanks in hand to install, new pin and bushings to install, new
> > damper wire guide rail bushings do do yet,  refinished the plate with
> > Steinway Gold and topcoat in on the way, new pedal rods, plate bolts
> > polished with a coat of lacquer applied.
> > Many list members have contributed to the steps with suggestions,
> > hints, and material sources, and many have said on the list, "If you
> > can't find the answer, just ask and we'll help".  Well, I'm asking
> > for some additional help.  And hopefully, being a new born of 18
> > months, I won't get "Boo'd out of the class" for asking, what the
> > more experienced ptg members would consider as, such an elemental
> > question.
> > And, this is addressed to other "newbees" out there, "Stay the
> > course, don't be afraid to ask questions, and study and practice over
> > and over 'till you get it right".
> > I thank you all for your contributions in advance. Respectfully,
> > Gordon Holley, Goshen, Indiana.