<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE></TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type = content=text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY text=#000000 bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have found that my trusty hammer with = the rosewood handle I bought some 14 years ago from apsco is great although = I would like a 10-11 degree for the rare pianos with the odd struts or the old = upright with the overhanging lid.  Don't over brain yourselves and use what = you like.  I always (when possible) place my hammer parallel to the = strings because I was taught that way. ( Thanks Steve B.)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Paul T. Williams RPT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="mailto:pno2nr@whidbey.com">pno2nr@whidbey.com</A> </FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=cy@shusterpiano.com href="mailto:cy@shusterpiano.com">Cy = Shuster</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">College and University Technicians</A> = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, January 25, = 2006 1:47 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Tuning = Hammers</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I find the ball helps most on grands, with the = handle pointed towards the tail parallel to the strings.  The small end = of a cigar-style lever is very uncomfortable in that position.  With = the ball, I can use it either with my palm touching the ball, or just with = finger tension.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I have the Calahan lever, with the pear-shaped = middle section.  It gives me a great variety of grips.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I think it's useful to consider how tennis rackets = are sized to your hand: if your fingers touch your palm, the grip is too = small.  If far away from your palm, the grip is too big.  Most hand tools = have handles that are too small (for my hands, anyway).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Figure out what size steering wheel is comfortable = for you, for example, and follow that...  Bicycle grip tape can give you a = custom fit.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>We have a wide variety of levers here at the = school.  I've been impressed with the lightweight Jahn and the Renner = levers.  I'm also very interested in Reyburn's impact lever for pitch-raising = uprights (when budget allows).</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>--Cy--</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>