lacquer softener

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Dave,
                  Using the steam voicing method works fine on most 
Lacquered hammers, if the hardener is in fact lacquer.  You can generally 
tell by the way the needles come out.with lacquer the needles may be hard 
to insert but are easy to pull out.  Now the key top type hardeners steam 
tends to be less effective.  You can tell with the needles hard to 
insert,  and kind of 'gummy' stuck when you try and with draw them.
"Vodka" ( or various alcohol concoctions) on the crown will reduce the 
strike noise and make the hammer tolerable but it will not open up the 
tone, and improve the sustain. It has a tendency to distort the hammer 
shape, depending on how aggressive the use.
What are we looking for in the voicing process?  usually an elastic but 
firm shoulder, with the inner area of the crown very firm or hard. The 
lower area of the hammer to be very firm an supportive to the 
shoulder.  Keep this in mind what ever technique you use.

For steam voicing I would refer you back to my Journal article, it's a 
lengthy step by step how to do it. Get the shoulders loosened up first, 
just like traditional techniques.

Many pianos out there have been juiced with the key top type hardeners, 
drenching with alcohol's will distort the shape of the hammer, but it 
works.   My preferred method is to wet needle. It's scary but works 
well.   Prop the hammers up with a long voicing block, with a sheet of 
polythene under the tails.  Drench the hammers with acetone, until the 
acetone is running down the molding, wait 10-15mins to let the juice get to 
a plastic state.   Re soak with acetone, I use a long single needle, long 
enough to reach the molding. About 6 insertions between 1 and 2 o'clock 
right down to the molding, the needles will slide in very easy, and you can 
feel the felt move between your finger and thumb,
The results are usually quite good, but lets be clear, a drastically over 
juiced hammer is a ruined hammer, and in a perfect world should be changed.
Some times I just keep flushing the hammers,5 or 6 drenching's, If you 
think you have over done the job, reshaping the hammers will bring back 
quite a bit of brightness.
Final voicing should be done the following day, but you can speed up the 
process with a hair dryer.
Process has to be done in a well ventilated space, for obvious reasons.
With these sever cases I will first recommend replacement, but warn the 
customer if it works to their satisfaction they save some money, if it 
doesn't then we go to plan 2.
Hope this helps
Roger

At 09:20 AM 4/27/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>Yes, Roger definitely should be chiming in here.  In addition to steaming,
>which I have used with good results on lacquer-hardened or age-hardened
>hammers, he has described a "wet-needling" process, consisting of saturating
>the hammer with a solvent (acetone?) then needling the wet hammer.  I
>haven't tried this, but it might be something you should consider.
>
>Mike Spalding RPT
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Phil Bondi" <tito@philbondi.com>
>To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 8:40 AM
>Subject: Re: lacquer softener
>
>
> > Dave, steaming hammers has had good, long-lasting results here. I believe
> > alot of the results depend on what kind of hammers/rocks have been
> > over-laquered, but in general, steaming gives quick, long-lasting results.
>I
> > have actually done steam, and then used needling to fine-voice after that,
> > also.
> >
> > Susan might be chiming in with alcohol as a softening agent..I personally
> > have only used it once with good results. I prefer steam. That's where my
> > personal comfort level is.
> >
> > Need to know more? Roger Bryant-Jolly should be answering to this thread
> > pretty soon with his 'should-be' patented method for steaming. The process
> > is quick..the results are immediate and long-lasting.
> >
> > -Phil Bondi (Fl.)
> > phil@philbondi.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >
>
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