Did you remove the key sticks first? James Grebe Est. 1962 Piano Tuner-Technician Creator of Custom Caster Cups Creator of fine Writing Instruments www.grebepiano.com 1526 Raspberry Lane Arnold, MO 63010 (314) 608-4137 Become what you believe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Amadeus Piano" <amadeuspiano at comcast.net> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 1:42 PM Subject: [pianotech] Spinet: Filing/ Shaping Hammers > Do you always remove the action to file/ shape hammers in a spinet? > > > > I ask because I read here once that we should never remove a spinet action > unless absolutely necessary. I now understand that edict. > > > > With good faith and naive optimism, I fully intended to remove the action > on > a Wurlitzer ca. 1950 spinet. I unscrewed the action bracket bolts, I > unscrewed the little screws holding the front edge down at the back of the > keybed, I even unscrewed the brace on the fallboard slide to make more > room; > then I tried pulling the little puppy out. > > > > Yikes. I couldn't get it to come out. I could get it moving up and it > felt like it was coming out, but then it would stop, like there was > something I missed or it was snagging somewhere. But I couldn't find what > was holding it back. I could get it up about 3 or 4 inches or so, but > then > it seemed to catch. Looking up from underneath, I couldn't see the > problem. > It wasn't any of the peddle dowels-I've seen them screwed in at the top > before, but that wasn't the case here, they just fell off. > > > > But, I have to say, just getting it back in from this position without > doing > any damage was hard enough-it seemed nearly cunning in its willingness to > move in every direction but up or straight back down-and it was all I > could > do to keep from ripping the dampers all to hell. > > > > To make a long story short, I filed and shaped the hammers with the action > in place. (Faux pas)? I think I did a pretty good job, but getting to > the > back of the hammers at the correct angle was a bear. And of course, I > worried about the felt dust getting all over the place. I was careful and > even placed rags around the bottom of the shanks to block as much as I > could, and when I was done, I (carefully) blew and (vigorously) vacuumed > and > I think I got most if not all of it out. > > > > I think I did a decent job on the hammers-standard grove wear taken care > of, > the hammer shape looks pretty good, all strings make contact. And it > tuned > up ok after the work too, although I can't swear that I didn't mess up > some > strike points just a little, esp. in the area just after the treble > break-there are some subtle false beats that may or may not have been > there > prior to the hammer work. > > > > So, I guess my question is twofold: > > > > Is it ok to attempt to shape hammers in a spinet with the action in place? > > > > And what might have been the problem with this action snagging, what was I > missing? Something obvious I fear. > > > > I imagine I will eventually have to remove one of these actions-thought I > dread the thought. > > > > Thanks in advance, Gary > > > >
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