[CAUT] Shank to Hammer weight spreadsheet

[Alan McCoy]

Tim,

Could you describe how you sort shanks by sound? I've done vertical shanks
that way for a long time by just dropping them on the table and listening.
Grand shanks, though, are "contaminated" by the flange connection, so
dropping them doesn't necessarily give a good "plink" or "plonk." I suppose
by holding the flange and letting the shank fall onto the table, you'll get
a comparable "plink."

Alan


-- Alan McCoy, RPT
Eastern Washington University
amccoy at mail.ewu.edu
509-359-4627


> From: Tim Coates <tcoates1 at sio.midco.net>
> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Date: Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:55:24 -0600
> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org>
> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Shank to Hammer weight spreadsheet
> 
> Keith,
> 
> Listening and sequencing the shanks is very fast if done correctly.
> I don't agree with Grotian's sequencing method.  I've been sorting
> low pitches to the bass end and high pitches to the top for over
> twenty years.  One basic principle I follow is a low pitched knock
> associated with a movement within the piano reduces power.  It is one
> of the main reasons I change front rail felt punchings.  Hard felt
> punchings create a low knock that robs power from the sound.   I find
> the same to be true with the pitch of the shanks.
> 
> But as I have said before:  to each his own.  Grotian does it their
> way and that's fine.  I know what works for me.
> 
> Tim Coates
> 
> 
> On Feb 16, 2008, at 8:07 PM, Keith Roberts wrote:
> 
>> My question is, if you are weighing the whole shank and flange, how
>> do you know the distribution of the difference in weight? If 90% of
>> the weight difference is from the knuckle through the flange, the
>> SW wouldn't change much and so the presumed evening out of the
>> weights is not there. The distribution of the mass could vary from
>> shank to shank at all the different weights.
>> 
>> I like the idea of listening to the sound of the shanks. A thinner
>> light shank should produce a higher sound. Very quick too.
>> 
>> Keith Roberts
>> 
>> On Feb 16, 2008 5:48 PM, Jon Page <jonpage at comcast.net> wrote:
>>>   It takes too long.  Just dry fit the hammers to the shanks
>>> right after you've tapered them with the table saw ...
>> 
>> I don't think you get the idea. Mating a shank's SW with a
>> hammer weight will require less hammer mass alteration
>> to achieve a smooth SW curve.
>> -- 
>> 
>> Regards,
>> 
>> Jon Page
>> 
>