[CAUT] hammer softener

[Greg Granoff]

No, but I have to place an order very soon, so I'll ask.  To be continued...
Greg

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan McCoy" <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu>
To: <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2006 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] hammer softener


> Greg,
>
> Did you contact Pianotek about the formula? I'm curious now, given your
> recent experience.
>
> Alan
>
>
> > From: Greg Granoff <gjg2 at humboldt.edu>
> > Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>"
<caut at ptg.org>
> > Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 14:14:27 -0800
> > To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> > Subject: Re: [CAUT] hammer softener
> >
> > Thanks Alan,
> > I share your sentiments mostly about this procedure.  I too am long time
> > user of needles and elbow grease, and have also had only mixed results
with
> > steam (though when it works, it *does* work--I'll give it that). But
> > recently I had a Hamilton vertical in the shop that had gone so bright
and
> > hard despite only minor hammer wear and fairly agressive voicing in the
past
> > that it made my ears bleed.  I happened upon a jar of unused Pianotek
hammer
> > softener I'd forgotten was around, and thought "why not?"  I put it on
> > carefully in a thin layer at the 11 and 1 position of the shoulders,
> > allowing it to soak up just under the crown, and got excellent results.
I
> > don't know how long this will last under fire, but it was so easy I
couldn't
> > believe it.  Despite being needled, the hammers didn't open up, though I
> > have seen that unpleasant effect from steaming.  I figure I might need
to do
> > this again, hence the questions about formulas.
> >
> > Greg
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Alan McCoy" <amccoy at mail.ewu.edu>
> > To: <caut at ptg.org>
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 10:47 AM
> > Subject: Re: [CAUT] hammer softener
> >
> >
> >> Hi Greg,
> >>
> >> I've used straight isopropyl with mixed results. Also used different
mixes
> >> of methanol and water. Had one Walter piano where the methanol/water
> >> solution simply did not penetrate at all. Rolled off the hammer felt
like
> >> water off a duck. I've also used steam also with mixed results. If
these
> >> hammers have been previously needled, watch out. Water (liquid or hot
> > vapor)
> >> can induce in the technician full-scale, sweaty panic as the hammer
opens
> >> up. Not a swell feeling, I can tell you.  (Grin, only in hindsight)
> >>
> >> These days I only use needles and lots and lots of elbow grease. I
charge
> >> for it. I just don't feel like I have control over the alcohol/water or
> >> steam.
> >>
> >> Alan
> >>
> >>
> >> -- Alan McCoy, RPT
> >> Eastern Washington University
> >> amccoy at mail.ewu.edu
> >> 509-359-4627
> >>
> >>
> >>> From: Greg Granoff <gjg2 at humboldt.edu>
> >>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>"
> > <caut at ptg.org>
> >>> Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2006 10:36:16 -0800
> >>> To: CAUT <caut at ptg.org>
> >>> Subject: [CAUT] hammer softener
> >>>
> >>> Well, after Alan's post about archive searches, I almost made my
subject
> > line
> >>> "OK, Brainiacs...." but though better of it.
> >>> My question:  anyone know what exactly is in the hammer softening
liquid
> > sold
> >>> by Pianotek, for example?  Anyone have their own favorite homemade
> > formula?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Thanks,
> >>> Greg
> >>>
> >>> Gregory J. Granoff
> >>> Staff Piano Technician
> >>> HSU
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>