What are benefits of new shanks on upright hammer replacement ?

[gordon stelter]

I've decided to replace them, for all of the reasons
cited, plus adjustablity during installation, etc..
But I'll rebuilding the butts with Ecsaine. According
to Bob at Pianotek, it is less fricative than
buckskin, but he hasn't quite convinced Tokiwa to use
Ecsaine on the upright butts yet ( like they do on the
grand knuckles ). As I'm dunking the butts in
SuperClean, and rinsing, they'll be good and wet, and
the shanks will just pull out. Then I'll dry them on
nylon hardware cloth from the garden section at
Lowe's, with 1/2 inch mesh, stretched over a  frame,
and then refelt, etc..  

    Thanks!
     G



--- Greg Newell <gnewell at ameritech.net> wrote:

> Don,
>          Did you miss the part where he wrote 
> "upright"? No knuckles there. Otherwise I agree. 
> I'm currently installing hammers on an upright 
> where butts and flanges aren't part of the 
> picture for a fairly strange reason. Seems the 
> deceased mother took great care to put on bridle 
> tapes by herself when she owned the piano and now 
> it's special to the daughter. Anyway I'm also 
> trying to decide whether to bore out the butts 
> and use new shanks or just hang on the old ones. 
> Boring the butts wouldn't be too difficult but it 
> does take more time and effort.
> 
> best,
> Greg Newell
> 
> 
> 
> At 10:20 PM 8/28/2007, you wrote:
> >Gordon,
> >
> >Here are my reasons for always preferring new
> shanks:
> >
> >- Shank wood ages and becomes more flexible with 
> >time.  New hammers with more felt are heavier 
> >than the old worn hammers, and will cause the 
> >shank to flex more in forte playing.  The tone will
> be weak as a result.
> >- If hammers are worn, knuckles are worn.  You 
> >can replace them separately - but then the labor
> begins to justify new shanks.
> >- Action centers have often been gummed up at 
> >some point in their lives, and the bushings may 
> >not perform as well as they once did.  New fresh 
> >bushings with even pinning makes for good tone and
> even touch.
> >
> >Don Mannino
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message ----- From: "gordon stelter"
> <lclgcnp at yahoo.com>
> >To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> >Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 1:20 PM
> >Subject: What are benefits of new shanks on upright
> hammer replacement ?
> >
> >
> >>If any.  I'm trying to decide if the added expense
> and
> >>trouble is justified, for several of the pianos
> I'm
> >>working on.
> >>     Peace,
> >>     Thump
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>>____________________________________________________________________________________
> >>Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly 
> >>Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at
> Yahoo! Games.
>
>>http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow
> >
> 
> Greg Newell
> Greg's Piano Forté
> www.gregspianoforte.com
> 216-226-3791 (office)
> 216-470-8634 (mobile)
> 
> 2003,04,05 & 06 winners of
> Angie's List Super Service Award
> 
> 
> 



       
____________________________________________________________________________________
Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/go?refer=1GNXIC