<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <title></title> </head> <body> I stand by my comments about steam voicing.  I wouldn't have earlier, but after reading posts on this list about it I have tempered how I use it.  I am not over steaming as Roger suggests.  I also use the exact procedures and materials one is supposed to.  I use it, but only as a last resort.  Misting and needles are used first.  If that fails to get the results I need, I steam very sparingly.   I used to be a die hard steam advocate.  You can check the archives on this listserve if you don't beleive me. You can also read the cautions I read and the amount of money spent by some manufactures replacing hammers.  One must be very careful.  I have sets of hammers that still sound fabulous from steam.  I have sets that are slightly thuddy.  I'm not talking about great pianos that sound slightly thuddy, it could just be lousy hammers. Tim Coates Wapin Company LLP Ed Sutton wrote: <blockquote type="cite" cite="mid000701c2c570$6d9e5fe0$34b6f7a5@yourpa86z1i3g7"> <pre wrap="">And I will echo Fred's comments exactly. Incidently, in the article, Roger says to use linen strips. Cotton works just as well, and I got this straight from the Roger's mouth. What he meant was: Don't use polyester. Also, Keith Akins' article on side needling in the July 2001 Journal is a gem of efficiency, a study in getting the most per poke. It is especially useful on verticals. Ed Sutton ----- Original Message ----- From: "Fred S. Sturm" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:fssturm@unm.edu"><fssturm@unm.edu></a> To: "Phil Bondi" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:tito@philbondi.com"><tito@philbondi.com></a>; "College and University Technicians" <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:caut@ptg.org"><caut@ptg.org></a> Sent: Sunday, January 26, 2003 2:13 PM Subject: Re: New Bostons </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap=""> I'll echo what Phil says, and refer to what Roger wrote, too: day to </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">day, </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">steam voicing as maintenance is a quick, well aimed shot to the very </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">crown. </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">Pulls the grooves back virtually level. Then iron. This is the very best </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">way to </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">extend the useful lives of hammers available. (The alternative is to file </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">and </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">sugarcoat, which will get you to need replacement real quick). For my part, I much prefer doing my shoulder work with needles, </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">assuming I </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">have hammers like Abels. I like the control and the results better. But </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">when </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">the hammers are rocks, and I'm facing hours of torture (Samicks and the </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">like), </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">steam is the way to go. Then maybe needles for finish. Regards, Fred Sturm Phil Bondi wrote: </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">I want to back up Roger's recent statement of Steam Voicing by saying I </pre> </blockquote> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">have </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">used this technique on new and old hammers, Asian and American alike, </pre> </blockquote> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">with </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">great long-term results. There's quite a few new Grands in SWFL under 5'(mostly Asian hammers) </pre> </blockquote> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">that </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">sound alot bigger than they are, thanks to steam voicing. On these rock-hard hammers, steam opens them up to accept needling for </pre> </blockquote> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">the </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">final touch, but without steam first, it's like trying to poke a hole in </pre> </blockquote> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">a </pre> <blockquote type="cite"> <blockquote type="cite"> <pre wrap="">rock with a blade of grass. -Phil Bondi (Fl.) <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:phil@philbondi.com">phil@philbondi.com</a> _______________________________________________ caut list info: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a> </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap="">_______________________________________________ caut list info: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a> </pre> </blockquote> <pre wrap=""> _______________________________________________ caut list info: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a> </pre> </blockquote> </body> </html>