[pianotech] using the multifunction tool to remove damper felt?

[Joseph Garrett]

Tom said: "Subject: Re: [pianotech] Using multifunction tool for grand
damper
feltremoval?
Message-ID: <3A2B2959B2734AB19C7D21FCF8D57831 at tomba31e729a57>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
 
Add a dash of normal dishwashing soap to your hot water and the adhesion
breaks apart much quicker."

Tom et al,
This is getting a bit ridiculous. There are easy ways to do this job. The
only time you would need a multifunction tool to remove anything, is if it
was a situation with Epoxy!
The process I use is a "system" in itself. First, I have an apparatus that
clamps to both sides of the piano and has an adjustable, (width), piece of
plywood or aluminum strip, wing nutted onto the right angle of the clamping
apparatus. This "strip" has a series of holes to accept the damper wires. (
I know a picture would be nice, but not on this 'puter, I'm sad to say.)
This apparatus is what I use to keep the dampers, in order, when removing
or installing them. The horizontal 'strip" is 1/4" thick, btw. Once the
dampers are removed, I unclamp the apparatus from the piano and take to the
work bench. I then put a 2"x4"x12" block into the clamping jaws. This
allows me to clamp the whole thing to the work bench top. Once that is
done, then I attach two water color duo-cups, (made for applying to
pallettes, etc.), one on each side of the horizontal "strip". As these are
moveable they adjust to the various widths of the dampers, as we move up to
the top treble dampers. I fill the "duo-cups" with Wall Paper Remover,
(available at any good hardware or paint store). The Wall Paper Remover
works better if you use hot water, btw. I move the first 4 dampers so that
the felt is in the Wall Paper solution. Then, I go do something else for a
while, giving the solution time to do it's thing. After 10-15 minutes the
damper felt is falling off of the heads. I like to use the olde damper felt
to scrub the finished wooden damper head. Squeeze most of the Wall Paper
remover  back into the duo-cups, so the damper felt is just damp. Give a
good scrub and set the damper into a new hole, (to the left of the duo
cups). Replace that damper with the next one, and so on. It's an assembly
line sort of thing, where you are continually putting a fresh damper in the
solution, adding more solution*, and removing/scrubbing/setting
aside/moving duo cups/etc. When done, let the whole set dry, at least,
overnight. If you try to glue onto the heads that are still wet with the
wall paper remover, the glue will fail!!! DAMHIK!
*(The Wall Paper Solution should be in a glass bottle, so that it can be
set on your Coffee Warmer to keep the solution hot)
That's the most efficient way I've come up with to clean off the olde,
replace with the new and get really clean, nice looking damper heads, while
keeping them in an orderly fashion. I hope that helps. I'll try to get some
pictures one of these days<G>
Joe 


Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I