Accurate cutting strips of cloth for Damper backing

[Michael Gamble]

Yes, John, I'm talking about the red stuff between the damper felt and the
damper head. In order to look well it must be accurately cut. You can't tear
this stuff in strips like when doing centre-pin bushings... it would
look.... Horrible!
Regards
Michael G.(UK)

-----Original Message-----
From: John Ross [mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca] 
Sent: 18 September 2005 13:38
To: staff@smithpiano.com; Pianotech
Subject: Re: Accurate cutting strips of cloth for Damper backing

Have you tried, a ruler with sandpaper glued to the bottom. That helps keep 
it in place.
You are, talking about thin felt that comes in rolls, and not the white 
thick felt for dampers?
The thick felt from the strips, cuts well with a guillotine, or Bill 
Spurlocks cutting block.

John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brad Smith" <staff@smithpiano.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 9:03 AM
Subject: RE: Accurate cutting strips of cloth for Damper backing


> Hi Michael,
> I use the same setup, but not just a straight edge.
> I mark a line with a pen for my cut.
> Then, I put a straight-edged, clear, 1/8" thick plastic sheet over top of 
> the strip that I'm about to cut.
> So, the skinny strip that I want, is now trapped under the plastic, and my

> target cutting line is right on the edge of the plastic.
> Keep good pressure, roll your cutter along your line at the edge of the 
> plastic.
> You'll find that you favor one side of the cutter, because it allows you a

> better view of how the blade is matching
> against the straight edge.  TaDA....You have a nicely cut piece.  Works 
> for buckskin too, when recovering backchecks.
> If you go a little wide of the line, no problem, this method allows you to

> make another pass to trim an existing piece of material
> if needed.   The other way (with the desired felt strip sticking out from 
> under your straight edge)
> gives you no room for error.  Don't be cheap about using a nice new sharp 
> blade, too.
>
> Another idea:  I haven't needed to do this, but I have thought about 
> making a thin straight cut in the plastic, which would act as a
> blade guide for the roller blade. That would allow even better control, I 
> imagine.
>
> The plastic can be found at craft stores, and some home improvement 
> stores.
> It's too stiff to use for bridge patterns, but is an excellent indexing 
> tool for rebuilding, pinblock location, etc.
> For example, I made a hammer centering jig with it, that allowed me to 
> quickly position and mark the strike point on new hammers
> before installation. And, I used it to do careful indexing of fallboard 
> hardware pivot point, when installing one of those fallboard
> decelerators (See http://www.pianofortesupply.com/fallboarddeceler.html ) 
> in a grand piano.
> The pivot point is crucial, and the plastic allows me to get an excellent 
> reference for where to drill a new hole in the side of a
> perfectly good piano.  :-)
>
>
> Best regards,
> Brad Smith, RPT
> www.smithpiano.com
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Gamble [mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk]
> Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 3:37 AM
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Accurate cutting strips of cloth for Damper backing
> Hello List
> Anyone got any bright ideas on how to cut cloth (or felt) in really 
> parallel
> strips and at a specific width for use on damper backing? The original was
> indeed cloth, not felt, the weave is plain to see at the sides. I have a
> "roller" type knife, one of those rubbery green mats (a large one) marked
> out in small squares, and a long straight-edge used for key-levelling. The
> problem is to stop the felt from shifting under the knife! (don't we all?)
> Regards
> Michael G.(UK)
>
>
>
>
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