My take is that it really doesn't matter, period. Once the action has been played a few hours, the leather is nicely compressed, usually glazed with some graphite and/or dirt (plus powdered teflon or whatever else might have been applied to it), and whatever nap there was in its pristine state has essentially disappeared: it is firmly packed down. So functionally, after those first couple hours, there simply IS no nap. With a used instrument, I find it next to impossible to determine what the nap is (after brushing to get rid of the glaze and buildup of whatever). Maybe with a microscope, but my fingers can't tell. So I am unclear whether it actually does make a difference that all are the same initially. Maybe, but you couldn't prove it by me. Regards, Fred Sturm fssturm at unm.edu http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/FredSturm On Jun 1, 2010, at 1:57 PM, Dempsey Jr., Paul E wrote: > OK, maybe just too much week-end or perhaps old-timers.... > > I am re-knuckle-ing a set of grand shanks. The new parts are of Able > manufacture and have a pencil line on each. > > Does this line face the flange or the hammer? > > I know the line indicates the direction of the nap of the leather, > but which way is preferable. > > > > Paul E. Dempsey, RPT > Piano Technician Sr. > Marshall University > Huntington, WV > 304-696-5418 > 304-617-1149
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC