Steps for determining Hammer boring info?

[Keith Roberts]

I asked this question before, so this is how I think it should be done from
what I gathered. Set the hammer rest rail to what would appear to be the
natural position or original with the old felts. With the hammer shank
parallel to the strings, measure what the bore distance would be and see if
that is in a good place in the molding of the hammer. I think closer to the
felt on the big hammers is better. If so, check to see what the blow
distance sets up to be with the rest rail position. Longer shank, give more
blow distance. If it looks good, give about 2 degrees of rake. If the action
is forward and the hammer hits the strings before the shank becomes
parallel, add more rake, up to 7 degrees or so. Original seems to have the
hammer at about 90 degrees to the string plane. Find the strike line from
note 88. Tilt the bass hammers sideways no more than 18 degrees or you will
have rubbing problems. Fan the tenor to match the angle of the string.
Should be easier than you think and isn't that critical. Evenness from one
hammer to next  so whatever sound you get is adjustable evenly...
Keith Roberts

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Ross" <jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 11:29 AM
Subject: Steps for determining Hammer boring info?


> Hi list,
> I have an upright Heintzman, the tall one. It came to me with the hammers
> all missing.
> I decided to replace the butts, (brass rail), I already had the butts, so
> since the rail seems good, I am using them.
> The next time I will change to wooden flanges, as has been suggested
> recently, on the list.
> The butts are apparently bored to a different angle, than the originals.
The
> originals had been massacred over the years as well, so there was some
> variance in them.
> How do I determine the pitch, and bore length for the new hammers.
> I am getting Abel hammers from Wally.
> Regards,
>
>
> John M. Ross
> Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
> jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
>
>
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