Tuning Levers & Convention Warning

[Alan]

I have 4:

1. Wonderball (Saucier's product) with 15 degree head which I really like.
It is light, strong, and easy to move one-handed between pins. But ... The
head tends to loosen and must be 'spun' back on with a flick of the wrist,
from time to time, and it's a little too flexible for some
pins/pianos/situations.

2. Jahn Ball-Handle (Pianotek sells 'em) with a 5 degree head. I like this
one a bunch, too. I like the ball end because I don't like tuning
side-saddle, i.e., with a traditional hammer: The wrist positions just don't
feel natural and comfortable, to me. This hammer is very rigid, extendible,
heavy/solid feeling, and you can reverse the head to give yourself about an
inch more height for grands, etc. Downsides: I think I'll be ordering the 15
degree head as clearance with the tops of big old uprights is sometimes a
problem. You can order the 15 degree head with the hammer--but I was curious
as to how a 5 degree head would be ... Oh, well.

3. A 'student' hammer (came with the Randy Potter School of Witchcraft &
Piano Technology). I don't tune with this but I hang on to it for one use:
when you get a reeeeeally tight pin (like the time I got overly enthusiastic
in doing a sandpaper shim, couldn't tune it and barely got it out!) this
hammer can produce considerable counter-clockwise torque without a head or
tip coming loose.

4. A short extension hammer (Schaff) which I bought on a random impulse that
I do not now remember or understand anyone want it cheap? Actually, I use it
in restringing and coil making as it does give you nice control close in to
the work.

And therein lies the warning: You go around to those booths and you
WILL--unless you are very unlike me--buy stuff you don't really need and may
have to explain to a spouse (or yourself in quiet moments of "what the hell
did I do that for" reflection). Ha! You have been warned. See you at all the
booths, my credit card is already humming with excitement ...

Alan R. Barnard
Salem, MO


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Matthew
Sent: Wednesday, December 29, 2004 8:49 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Tuning Levers


Greetings fellow Piano Techs,

This is my first post to the list serve so please be merciful. :-)

I will be purchasing a new tuning hammer soon as my old lever has seen quite

a bit of wear and tear. I am curious as to the different styles of hammers 
you all use and if you have any recommendations as to tuning levers that 
have stood the test of time and ones that may not be quite as good as they 
were advertised.
Do some of you carry multiple tuning hammers depending on the piano you come

across? Say, a heavier hammer for pitch raises and then switch to a lighter 
one for more precision work?

Thanks,

Matt Lavender 
_______________________________________________
pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives

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