[CAUT] Hammer Alignment

[Mark Cramer]

Wally Brooks suggests swiping both sides of the shank with a bit of moisture
after heating/twisting.

I like the idea (restoring moisture content evenly on both sides), as wood
accepting moisture unevenly is apparently what causes twisting in the first
place.

And yes, if it's twisted more than a couple degrees, remove and reglue the
hammer.

Mark Cramer,
Brandon University

  -----Original Message-----
  From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org]On Behalf Of Jim
Busby
  Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 8:39 AM
  To: College and University Technicians
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Hammer Alignment


  Wim,



  I saw them burning shanks at Steinway. The explanation was that the shank
is sugar maple and heat makes the “sugar” somewhat liquefied for a moment
and then quickly cools into the new twist. I’ve been doing this for years
w/o problems. It’s permanent. However, if you have too much to twist I could
see removing the hammer, etc.



  Just my two bits.



  Jim Busby BYU




----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

  From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Wimblees at aol.com
  Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 4:35 AM
  To: caut at ptg.org
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Hammer Alignment



  In a message dated 3/29/06 10:00:51 P.M. Central Standard Time,
garym at PIANOSERVICE.BIZ writes:

    Wim,



    I'm sure it gets warmer than 120 degrees. Just think about it. It gets
hotter than 120 degrees in a car on a hot day in summer in Kansas, but I
have never been able to twist a hammer under those circumstances.



    If you are only moving the hammer 1 or 2 degrees, why take the chance?
Just twist the shank. If the Rappaports do it, then there must be something
to it...



    Sincerely,



    Gary Mushlin, RPT

  Here is another "twist", (no pun intended), on this subject. Yes, wood
molecules can be changed by heating them, like rib stock and rims. But when
it is done in the factory, the wood is heated and clamped into a new shape,
and set there for several hours before the clamps are removed. When we burn
a shank, all we are doing is temporarily heating a shank and twisting it for
a few second before letting go. Is this changing the molecules long enough
to permanently change the configuration for ever?



  Wim
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