<html> <body> Hi Tim,               I hope you did not think I was critiquing your approach to steam,  that was far from the intent.  My major use of steam is for touching up the crown of U1 practice pianos, no time, no money, so it's the most expedient.  The key is not letting those grooves form too deep. The second use is rock hard Asian hammers, were I get aggressive with the steam prior to needling, It's a cost effective approach where you know the client will never pay for a complete job. Like all techniques, you have to find the one that works for you. One very positive thing that I find happening.  There are far more technician's today, taking an holistic approach to our craft.  Looking at the musicality of the instrument, and doing some thing about  it. Since this is a University tech's forum, I feel comfortable that the competence level is higher than average, and that good judgement prevails. In a perfect world, we would have premium hammers to work with, and be regularly given 4 hrs to voice them for  max results.  Well no harm in dreaming. Regards Roger At 02:04 PM 1/26/2003 -0600, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>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 class=cite cite> <pre>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 href="mailto:fssturm@unm.edu"><fssturm@unm.edu></a> To: "Phil Bondi" <a href="mailto:tito@philbondi.com"><tito@philbondi.com></a>; "College and University Technicians" <a 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 class=cite cite> <pre>    I'll echo what Phil says, and refer to what Roger wrote, too: day to     </pre></blockquote> <pre>day,   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>steam voicing as maintenance is a quick, well aimed shot to the very     </pre></blockquote> <pre>crown.   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>Pulls the grooves back virtually level. Then iron. This is the very best     </pre></blockquote> <pre>way to   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>extend the useful lives of hammers available. (The alternative is to file     </pre></blockquote> <pre>and   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>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>assuming I   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>have hammers like Abels. I like the control and the results better. But     </pre></blockquote> <pre>when   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>the hammers are rocks, and I'm facing hours of torture (Samicks and the     </pre></blockquote> <pre>like),   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>steam is the way to go. Then maybe needles for finish. Regards, Fred Sturm Phil Bondi wrote:     </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>I want to back up Roger's recent statement of Steam Voicing by saying I       </pre></blockquote></blockquote> <pre>have   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>used this technique on new and old hammers, Asian and American alike,       </pre></blockquote></blockquote> <pre>with   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>great long-term results. There's quite a few new Grands in SWFL under 5'(mostly Asian hammers)       </pre></blockquote></blockquote> <pre>that   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>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>the   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>final touch, but without steam first, it's like trying to poke a hole in       </pre></blockquote></blockquote> <pre>a   </pre><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite> <pre>rock with a blade of grass. -Phil Bondi (Fl.) <a href="mailto:phil@philbondi.com">phil@philbondi.com</a> _______________________________________________ caut list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a>       </pre></blockquote> <pre>_______________________________________________ caut list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a>     </pre></blockquote> <pre> _______________________________________________ caut list info: <a href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives</a>   </pre></blockquote></blockquote></body> </html>