[CAUT] Experiment success!

[Barbara Richmond]

Howdy all,

Yessirree, I remember a debate about fabric softener clogging up 
hammers--gosh, durn, that must have been back in the early to mid 90s...

The pictures might show it in the fibers, but I never had any problem 
boosting the tone again if I got more results than intended during five and 
a half years at IWU.  I suppose it would depend on the concentration of 
softener. I use a very diluted mix 7/1 and my 1 actually includes equal 
parts of softener, Woolite & wall paper paste remover (if you must know).

Sometimes this stuff is just the ticket.

Barbara Richmond, RPT
near Peoria, Illinois





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Busby" <jim_busby at byu.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 7:30 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Experiment success!


> List,
>
> I think I read an article about Downy softener that said the long term
> effect wasn't good. It seems it kind of "clogged up" the hammer so
> future voicing was not possible. Anyone know about the long term effect?
> (Within a couple of years) The Pianotek stuff isn't supposed to have
> adverse effects. I've used it occasionally on marginal hammers with
> success.
>
> Jim Busby BYU
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
> Willem Blees
> Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 5:26 PM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Experiment success!
>
> 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
>
>
>
>