<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [CAUT] Schimmel attacked by fabric softener</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> I jus= t found a supplier for blonde shellac flakes: <a href="http://woodworker.com= /cgi-bin/search.exe?BP=1">http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/search.exe?BP=1</a><= BR> Product #848-845 Super Blonde Shellac Flakes    $25 for what looks like a lifetime supply for most folks. I know S&S used shellac in the “early years” for hammer har= dening before switching to lacquer. My curiosity piqued, I think I’ll =  give it a try. Alan   <HR ALIGN=CENTER SIZE="3" WIDTH="95%">From: Ed Sutton <ed440@mind= spring.com> Reply-To: <ed440@mindspring.com>, "College and University= Technicians <caut@ptg.org>" <caut@ptg.org> Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 11:08:40 -0400 To: "College and University Technicians <caut@ptg.org>&qu= ot; <caut@ptg.org> Subject: RE: [CAUT] Schimmel attacked by fabric softener I will suggest that you try a solution of one gram blonde shellac flakes to= one ounce of wood alcohol.   Soak in from the upper shoulders until the hammer is wet.   Let dry a few hours for first test, full brightness after about 12 hours.<B= R>   You can add more shellac solution, or soak out with pure alcohol if you don= 't like it, as it is easily dissolved by alcohol.  Alcohol smells bette= r than lacquer thinner, and the dry flakes have a shelf life of perhaps a ce= ntury.   I find it voices easily, and like the tone, which to me is warm and full wi= thout brittleness.   I have heard that when piano factories used shellac in the finish, shellac = was used to harden hammers.   I don't have a lot of experience with Steinway hammers, but have used shell= ac in a school where all the hammers were excessively softened, and got good= results.   You might try on a few sample hammers to start.   Ed Sutton       <BLOCKQUOTE>----- Original Message ----- From:  <a href="mailto:HepplerA@aol.com"><mailto:HepplerA@ao= l.com></a> To: caut@ptg.org Sent: 5/20/2005 10:43:45 AM Subject: [CAUT] Schimmel attacked by fabric softener One quick q= uestion for you more experienced techs out there. . .     I have a 7' Schimmel on consignment in the store I = work for that needs some radical changes in the voicing.  To the reques= t of the previous owner, the bass and upper treble sections have been voiced= down considerably.  Unfortunately, the tooner used fabric softener as = well as excessive steam, as I'm guessing from the shrinkage.  I have ju= st spent a couple weeks with Boesendorfer in one-on-one voicing training, so= I'm comfortable with most voicing jobs, but this is nasty.  The top 1/= 4" or so is as soft as gym socks, it smells like Downy, and there's eve= n a few scorch marks in the bass.  Is there any point in trying to save= this set of hammers, or should I save myself the agony and just replace the= m?  O.K., now, control your grimaces. :)   Elizabeth Heppler, R.P.T. Montana State University - Bozeman </BLOCKQUOTE> </BODY> </HTML>