[pianotech] re-gluing loose hammer felt

[tnrwim at aol.com]

Wallace

I have a lot of Baldwins with loose heads here on Hawaii. At first I would glue them, just as did. But when I came back to the piano a year later more heads would loose.

Now, unless it's only 2 or 3, I recommend a new set of hammers 

Wim Blees. RPT

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 13, 2012, at 3:23 PM, Wally Scherer <afinetune at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I've used clamps, vice grips, wire ties with wood glue and CA glue. Finally, the last job I did seems to be the best so far. 
> 
> It was a Baldwin studio with about 20 hammers half separated. I removed the action, put it in the action cradle on a table, then proceeded one by one to apply the medium thick CA glue to both surfaces. Then I would grab it tight with vice grips (with curved jaws) to close the opening, being sure it aligned properly. Then I sprayed it with the activator and held it tight for a full minute. When I released pressure, each one held.
> 
> Afterwards, I applied a few drops of thin CA glue to the hammers that had NOT separated yet to hopefully prevent them from separating.
> 
> Whenever working with CA glue on a big project like this or applying to tuning pins, I always have a fan blowing. But sometimes my eyes still burn.
> 
> 
> A FINE TUNE - Piano Tuning & Repairs
> Wallace T. Scherer, piano technician, music educator
> Serving professional and amateur musicians since 1979
> 5020 Canal Drive, Lake Worth, Florida, 33463-8014
> Telephone: 561-432-4121
> Web page: http://aftune.angelfire.com
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> 
> --- On Sat, 2/4/12, David Weiss <davidweiss at embarqmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> From: David Weiss <davidweiss at embarqmail.com>
>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] re-gluing loose hammer felt
>> To: pianotech at ptg.org
>> Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012, 4:21 PM
>> A good way to clamp them is with
>> cable ties left over from Dampp Chaser
>> installations. Very secure and no cost.  Here's a few
>> photos.
>> 
>> David Weiss
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
>> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]
>> On Behalf
>> Of Ron Nossaman
>> Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2012 3:30 PM
>> To: pianotech at ptg.org
>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] re-gluing loose hammer felt
>> 
>> On 2/4/2012 1:47 PM, Tom Gorley wrote:
>>> About 6 months ago a tuner put us on to clamps that
>> work perfectly for 
>>> this job. I wish I could remember who, so I can give
>> him credit.
>>> Here is the website of the Garrett Wade Company and the
>> correct page.
>>> 
>>> http://www.garrettwade.com/ratchet-lock-spring-clamps/p/05R04.01/
>> 
>> 
>> Sorry, I don't remember who it was either but as long as
>> we're in the
>> Garrett Wade catalog looking at clamps, at $6 each for ten,
>> these are the
>> best F clamp bargain there is. Not much good for hammer
>> felt, but I have 20
>> of them on a new vertically laminated bridge root in the
>> shop and I really
>> like them.
>> 
>> http://www.garrettwade.com/inexpensive-hd-12-fast-acting-clamps/p/05R08.01/
>> 
>> Ron N
>>