[CAUT] Experiment success!

[Willem Blees]

Not only is Downey less expensive, it probably smells a lot better 
than the hammer softener from Piantek. BTW, does anyone know the 
ingredients of this stuff?

Wim
Willem Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
School of Music
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL USA
205-348-1469

Quoting Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>:

> Hi all
> 
> Just wanted to give you an update on my hammer softener experiment. 
> It 
> ended up being a tie between the Downy softener and the hammer
> softener 
> from Protek.  Since most of the pianos I worked on have Abel and
> Renner 
> hammers, steaming didn't have a huge effect.  One M&H model A's
> hammers 
> are so badly worn (not even enough felt left to file!) that even the
> 
> softeners didn't do very much.  It's now slated for an action
> overhaul 
> this summer.( Abel or Renner? Hmmmmmmm...)
> 
> So for cost analysis, the hammer softener is about 75 cents per ounce
> and 
> the Downy/Alcohol is about 15 cents/ounce!  No brainer.  Time will
> tell 
> which will last the longest. 
> 
> BTW, The mineral spirits ended up working just fine on the Steinway 
> finish.
> 
> On to new challenges!
> 
> Best to all,
> 
> Hei, Hei!
> 
> Paul