David, Schaff''s "Shank Knurling Pliers", No. 291, are the same pliers that I used for 35 years working for IBM and we called them "GAS PLIERS" Quoting Schaff''s catalog, "A standard all-purpose pair of pliers for knurling or compressing hammer shanks. Can also be used for squeezing the shoulder on very hard piano hammers." Norm Barrett ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Boyce" <David at piano.plus.com> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 11:59 AM Subject: Re: kneading hammers > Well Rupert, it just goes to show, I can't find a thing when it's staring > me in the face! > > There it is sure enough on p61 of my revised third edition 1976 reprint. > > That one little paragraph raises big questions and leaves 'em unanswered, > I fear. What is meant by gas pliers? Pliers such as would be used by a > gasfitter? The idea of gripping the hammer felt then levering it from > side to side fills me with qualms. If you actually levered the felt by > any perceptible amount, I think it would be awfully easy to do untold > damage. In my view, gentle compression without any twisting or levering > would be safer. > > If you have the felt of a bass hammer in the jaws of a pair of pliers, and > you squeeze the pliers, then at least momentarily you are reducing the > width of the hammer. The felt has to go SOMEWHERE so presumably in > altering shape momenatily it redistributes itself, and in forcing that to > happen, you open up the fibers of the felt inside the hammer to some > degree. > > I guess you are doing the right thing, in experimenting cautiously on > pianos where you won't get sued if it goes horribly wrong! > > Best, > > David. > >
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