Hammer Butt Springs

[pianolover 88]

Mouse pee!

Terry Peterson



----Original Message Follows----
From: "Isaac Sadigursky" <irs.pianos@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org>
To: "'Wesley Hardman'" <hardman@hiwaay.net>,   "'Pianotech List'" 
<pianotech@ptg.org>
Subject: RE: Hammer Butt Springs
Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 13:02:31 -0800

Hi,Wsley!

Good post,worth repeating.. The description of this phenomena was in the
Journal good 15 years ago..I wrote it sharing this info after spending some
time with John Light,then with Kimball.John did some research on this topic
and the answer is:Yes,return spring felts were glued with the glue which
later had some reaction,penetrated the felt and affected[oxidation]
springs.Even if they appear intact-it still can be misleading to a novice
technician and the cycle of key easing,hammer flange repining can start
with no results. To make long story longer-all return spring MUST be
replaced and Kathy Voss,RPT from Chickagoland,gave the best program at one
of the Nationals.Her method of replacing springs is the most efficient..Done
it,it works!! Best of Luck.. Isaac



   _____

From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Wesley Hardman
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2006 7:31 AM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Hammer Butt Springs



Like most of you, occasionally I run across a piano manufactured 35-40 years
ago in which  hammer butt springs are missing, and those that remain can be
broken off by just touching them.  Does anyone know specifically why this
happens?  Is it the properties of the metal used to make the springs, or is
it a reaction caused by the felt surrounding the springs that causes them to
become brittle and easy to break?



Wesley Hardman

Alabama