Petzl Zipka; was nursing home blues

[Dave Nereson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kent Swafford" <kswafford@earthlink.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 7:18 AM
Subject: Petzl Zipka; was nursing home blues


> On Wednesday, October 15, 2003, at 06:39  AM, J Patrick Draine wrote:
> 
> > And the only illumination for that half of the room is the piano lamp  
> > which gets put on the floor as we open up the piano. Other than urging  
> > the owner to scrounge up a floor lamp, or pulling a lame clip on  
> > utility lamp out of the car, I'm wondering what the rest of you do.
> 
> I have mentioned the Petzel Zipka LED headlamp before. Still highly  
> recommended. Lets one tune in (otherwise) complete darkness. About the  
> size of a golf ball, so easily carried in case. Don't leave home  
> without one. I currently have 4 of them, which I hope will be a  
> lifetime supply.
> 
> Kent Swafford

    Whatsa matter with the clip-on work light?  I don't think it's lame.  That's what they're for.  It's nice and bright -- great for aligning spinet hammers to the strings.  Clip it onto the rail the action sits on and aim it in toward the flanges.  Better than groping and guessing.  You don't have to hold it.  Batteries don't run down. 
    I also have a Petzl, but the light is a little on the "dim and blue" side compared to my MagLite.  Yes, the batteries are new.  When it's on my forehead, though, the angle isn't right for finding the hammer flange screw.  It casts shadows rather than illuminating what I'm trying to see.  The light really needs to be coming from the direction of the hand holding the screwdriver, not down from the forehead.  But for positioning hammer butt springs, damper lever springs, fishing stuff out of the action, regulating dampers -- anything where you're looking down into the action, it's fine.  And for working down under the keybed on trapwork, verticals or grands.  --David Nereson, RPT