[CAUT] hammer softener

[ed440 at mindspring.com]

Paul-
For curiousity could you tell us the vintage of the M & Hs and the hammer brand.
One other comment.
Back when fabric softener solutions were new, I followed recommendations to soak the shoulders with the stuff.  All was well 'till I soaked a set of Baldwin hammers and stood there watching them pop loose as the softener soaked in, opened the shoulders and released the glue.
Since then I gradually cut back on the softener and changed to surface spraying. I've also seen folks do a fairly strong alcohol soak, then suspend the hammers strike point down and let them dry overnight.
Also be aware that steaming and softening treatments can sometimes cause worn hammers to split across the strike point.
Have fun, cautiously!
Ed Sutton

-----Original Message-----
>From: Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>
>Sent: Mar 23, 2007 2:32 PM
>To: College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
>Subject: Re: [CAUT] hammer softener
>
>I've now got so many good suggestions, I'm going to conduct an experiment: 
> I'll find the brightest practice room I can and pick out the four 
>brightest of the bright in the upper-mid treble section.  I'll try 
>Pianotek,   fabric softener and water,   steam,   and rubbing alcohol and 
>then check them out the next day.  I'll let you all know what wins!!
>
>Have a great weekend!!
>
>Thanks for all the suggestions.
>
>Paul
>
>
>
>
>
>Alan Crane <alan.crane at wichita.edu> 
>Sent by: caut-bounces at ptg.org
>03/23/2007 12:32 PM
>Please respond to
>College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>
>
>
>To
>College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>, caut at ptg.org
>cc
>
>Subject
>Re: [CAUT] hammer softener
>
>
>
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>
>At 09:46 AM 3/23/2007, Paul T Williams wrote:
>>
>>Does anyone know what is in the Pianotek Hammer softener?  I was 
>>wondering if there is some homemade stuff that would work as 
>>well.  They only sell it in 8 Oz bottles and until budgets increase 
>>(ha ha) to replace lots of hard, worn, really really bright hammers 
>>et al, I need to use this stuff.
>
>Hi Paul,
>
>Several years ago, right before steam became popular for 
>softening/voicing, there was a substantial interest in fabric 
>softener based formulations for softening hammers.
>
>
>I still use the stuff sometimes.
>Mine is home made; don't know what Pianotek's formulation is.
>
>The formula I use is:
>
>Downey Free* (no dyes, no scent) fabric softener, and isopropyl 
>alcohol (70%) in a 1/8 ratio.
>(That's one part softener / eight parts alcohol)
>
>* the particular brand is (I think) not important
>
>
>
>Regards,
>
>Alan B. Crane,  RPT
>School of Music
>Wichita State University
>alan.crane at wichita.edu 
>
>