Steinway hammer voicing

[Andrew and Rebeca Anderson]

Thanks Ed,
This is a four year old D that hasn't hit its stride yet.  As far as 
I know everything is original.  I'm guessing lacquer is the hardener 
and perhaps if a wash were considered lacquer thinner would be more 
appropriate.

I get your point about going light on the steam, in my early efforts 
at softening hammers on an old upright I got some cotton like 
puffballs doing that. =-O  This is why I generally confine myself to 
needling.  I will do this on the couple hammers that do not 
float/bloom if after switching with a neighbor they sound better.

Andrew Anderson

At 09:26 PM 9/29/2006, you wrote:
>Andrew writes:
>
><< If crown needling between the grooves doesn't get me any "bloom" are
>we talking replacement hammers, acetone wash or what? >>
>
>      There are several things to try before replacing them.  A soaking with
>acetone might move whatever hardener away from the center of the 
>hammer, but it
>is hard to tell. (if shellac were used, acetone will not do anything).   I
>would be inclined to try steam.  I did this last week to a stage 
>piano that had
>sufficient hammer weight left, but not flexibility.
>      I use a 1" wide strip of old flannel bedsheet.  I soak it in water and
>squeeze it out as hard as my hand can go.  I then lay it on the shoulders of
>the hammers, a section at at time.  One edge of the strip is aligned at about
>11:30 on the hammer (viewed from the side as a clockface, crown is 12:00) so
>that the strip is never right on crown.  With an iron set on 
>"cotton", I make one
>pass along the section, rather rapidly.  There will be a wisp of vapor coming
>off the cloth behind the iron.  Then I repeat on the other shoulder.
>     The results can be profound and immediate.  You may need to do a light
>filing if the felt distorts, and you can repeat it if nothing happens.
>good luck,
>
>Ed Foote RPT
>http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
>www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html
>