[pianotech] Tool for hammer burning

[Barbara Richmond]

Andrew, 



Alright, that's what I was looking for.  Now, would you like to take a picture of the tool?  The most interesting tool pictures are those that show the tool doing its work--if possible.  Otherwise I can settle for a simple "portrait." 



Here are the recommendations I send everyone: 

    • use a tripod 
    • no flash  
    • keep an eye out for clutter in the background 



I'm sure you're going to be a great success in this business, your star is already shining brightly! 



Thank you! 



Barbara Richmond, RPT 

associate editor 

Piano Technicians Journal 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Cherry" <ajc at foobox.com> 
To: pianotech at ptg.org 
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 8:52:49 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central 
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Tool for hammer burning 

Hi Bruce- 


Hey, thanks for the ideas; I think I figured it out!   


When it fails to light, I've never had a problem after the second or third try, so we're really talking maybe 10 seconds of inconvenience anyway.  On mine, the ignition slider is spring-loaded and locks into position (there's a button on the side that you press to release the lock), and since it requires some amount of force to push it into the on position, the tendency is to switch it on quickly.   After reading your note, I decided to play around a little more, and have discovered that if I switch it on just a little bit more slowly (allowing a little more gas to flow before ignition), it seems to light reliably.  So maybe the answer is to just not be so quick on the trigger! 


Thanks again! 


-Andrew 





On Feb 28, 2009, at 6:20 PM, Bruce Dornfeld wrote: 





Hello Andrew!  Welcome to the list.  I know Paul, Robert & Co. are taking good care of you at the CSPT.  I have been using a Weller soldering tool for hammer burning for years now.  The model I have is a Weller Portasol PSI-100K.  If the controls are the same I may have some help for you.  There are two slide controls.  One turns on the butane, this uses commonly available cigarette lighter butane gas.  The second slide control is the ignition.  I had trouble lighting mine constantly for a while and found what helps.  Pull the slide down and let it go quickly.  If it is released too slowly, it does not light.  I do find this a great tool for burning shanks.  I like to let it warm up for about a minute first… then it is good and hot to go. 

Bruce Dornfeld, RPT 
bdornfeld at earthlink.net 
North Shore Chapter 

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