Lacquering Hammers Wait to Play On?

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

At 10:29 12/04/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>I recently asked a related question (how to speed the prep of new 
>Steinways) and was told to use lacquer with Acetone instead of lacquer 
>thinner to speed the drying process.  True?  Drawbacks?
>
>P.S.   I find the use of keytops/acetone only, noisier, lacquer is 
>better.  Also, acetone dries in a couple of hours, lacquer thinner, over 
>night and the lacquer solids do get a bit harder over time.
>
>Lance Lafargue, RPT


Yes.  As I understand, the thinner or acetone is merely the "vehicle" for 
getting the hardening agent into the felt.

By using acetone, I can juice some hammers voice the same day. CAUTION!! As 
with any volatile liquid, provide plenty of ventilation. (I much prefer to 
do it onstage rather than in my 11x21 office.)

When I come back to the piano I can tell if the acetone has evaporated by

1.) - how smelly is it? If it is still very strong, it is probably still 
drying.

and/but if you are not sure...

2.) - how cool are the hammers? Since evaporation is a cooling process, if 
the hammers are cooler than ambient, they aren't dry yet and ready to do 
voicing/playing.

Depending on the amount applied, it can be less than an hour.




Conrad Hoffsommer -
I live in my own little world, but it's OK, they know me here.
mailto:hoffsoco@luther.edu