Wally Brooks and daughter had some pictures of slides of some of these cheap hammers formed under very high heat where the fibres had actually fused together. I've used a Dremmel sparingly, resorting later to "hand needling". I am really cautious in using alcohol/water, though have used it with good success in limited places. I carry a Vodka bottle. Actually first time I used the mixture, I used 100 proof Vodka. Clean, and I have had fun telling people I use the stuff, and if it doesn't work, I just drink it till the piano sounds good............ A few laughs occasionally.... les bartlett _____ From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Geoff Sykes Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 8:10 PM To: Pianotech at Ptg. Org Subject: Alcohol and hard hammers Tomorrow I have to go up against a new, out of the box, upright piano with ROCK hard hammers. I have been asked to voice the hammers down significantly in order to reduce the unpleasant brittle harsh cold sound. Last time I had to do this I just aggressively needled away for a long time. Very aggressively with lots of broken needles. Even after I was "finished" I was still unable to get a needle in more than about 1mm. Not too long ago, on the list, I read that treating hard hammers with a little alcohol would help un-compact the felt. However, these are new hammers and are probably hard because of a hardening treatment. Today's question is: Would a small alcohol treatment help? If not, what would you suggest? -- Geoff Sykes -- Assoc. Los Angeles -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/447 - Release Date: 09/13/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/447 - Release Date: 09/13/2006 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20060914/abe88fc9/attachment.html
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