Voicing down hammers - part2

[Dean May]

Hey I just picked up tonight a couple of vodka bottles in the 50 ml size,
only $1 each, 40% (80 proof). It looks like one bottle is just the right
size to do a piano. That way you don't have to worry about transporting
alcohol in unsealed bottles and violating inane laws. 

I've got a customer with a 10 year old Baldwin studio who complains about
her rock hard hammers. I hope to try it out. 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Avery Todd
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 4:24 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Voicing down hammers - part2

Hi Phil,

Did you use Everclear? LOL

Avery

On Nov 11, 2007 10:48 AM, Phil Bondi <phil at philbondi.com> wrote:
> Good morning all.
>
> I opened a thread last week about voicing down
> rocks-at-the-end-of-hammer-shanks. I want to let
> you know that 2 suggestions worked just fine -
> alcohol(Dave Love)instead of acetone..and vice
> grips(Mr.Jon Page). I was able to get the
> texture of the hammers using alcohol to the
> point that vice grips would actually make a
> difference. As an aside, I am going to steam
> them once and needle the fine points before
> sending this piano off to the client. It will
> literally whisper when that player system is
> down to its lowest volume. It's pretty good now,
> and it will get softer after steam/needles.
>
> I got much better results using alcohol as
> opposed to acetone, and I have been under the
> impression that acetone is the preferred liquid
> to soften these types of hammers. I get them
> softer in 1/2 the time it took me using acetone
> as opposed to alcohol. I'm glad I asked the
> question.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -Phil Bondi(Fl)
>
>
>