Rock Maple Hammer Cores

[Delwin D Fandrich]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
> Behalf Of John Hartman
> Sent: February 19, 2004 2:50 PM
> To: Pianotech
> Subject: Re: Rock Maple Hammer Cores
>
>
> Del,
>
> One thing I have noticed is that maple and other smooth hardwoods
> require more aggressive roughening of the tails to get them to check
> right. With maple, birch and hornbeam a checkering file has to be used
> to get it to check reliable over time. This ads significantly to action
> noise. With sapiely, mahogany and walnut a light going over with a files
> card or 50 grit sandpaper is all that is needed.
>
> There's a bit more to selecting hammer molding wood than just strength
> and density.
>
> John Hartman RPT


Oh, I agree. But now we're into a whole other issue than we started out
with.

I haven't noticed, however, that open pore woods like sapele, mahogany or
walnut check any better than do closed pore woods like maple. They all seem
to glaze over in about the same amount of time. Nor have I found any of them
any more prone to creating action or checking noise than the others. Hard
and aging leather is another issue.

Del