Richard Brekne wrote: > Hi Michael. > > 5 mm is really quite a long ways away for setoff (letoff). If you have > soft hammers from the get go, you are going to exhasperate the problem > rather big time with such a distance. By the sounds of it the whole > piano is in trouble so I am not really sure what to tell you... > grin... I am tempted to suggest thumbtacks... no no no no.. I didnt > say that ! > > Andres Collidin is just as fast as Cellulose. If you have Cellulose > then perhaps thats what handy. Mix with 8 parts Lynol or whatever > Cellulose thinner you use. Start out with 5-6 small drops on the > crown of each hammer and wait until you get a result. This will set up > fast and is reversable. If you soak the shoulders with loads of > mixture, then you will have to wait over nite and whatever you get is > much less reversable. In all cases of useing lack, my personal > preference is always just a few small drops on the surface. This most > closely simulates the end result with needling, where the shoulders > are to become gradually softer, having released their tension towards > the crown. Personal preference well and mark. But in your case.. > this is also the fastest. You should be able to get a usable degree > of hardness without over doing it in a couple hour time at worst. The > only other type of hardener I ever had any hankering for was > Shellack... or spirit lack as its often called. It also dries very > fast but does leave a telltail stain. I am not a fan of Acetone with > anything. Again, personal preference. > > Cheers. > > RicB > > Michael Gamble wrote: > >> Hello Rik & Andre and List >> I am trying to establish the fastest method of hardening the hammers >> of this old upright German "Katz" which is used on stage in "Bartered >> Bride". Right now we are still in rehearsal and it is very soft >> sounding. I have regulated the touch and the set-off to bring the >> hammers within about 5mm from the strings - which is pushing my luck >> somewhat as a lot of the butt springs are broken! Even so it is very >> soft-sounding. At the moment we are countering this to a degree by >> removing the front panel and kneeboard. Fortunately there's a music >> desk on the fall. I have the following potions :-) Apsco #425 Hammer >> Felt Reinforcer (that'll take you back a few years?). Very pungent >> smell. I also have a small can of Humbrol Nitrate Cellulose Dope - >> this is usually used to taughten the paper tissue skin applied to >> model aircraft. (great fun!) The Apsco stuff can, I believe, be >> thinned down using Acetone (nail varnish remover - more smelly >> stuff!) as required. Given the scenario and with the action on its >> front (hammers "up") what, in your opinion is the best, fastest and >> most effective way to harden those hammers? :-) >>
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC