<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" = xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" = xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" = xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" = xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C3F719.706535B0"> <o:SmartTagType = namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple = style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Eric, I can’t picture the = spring clamp securing the hammer enough.  How does that work?  = <o:p></o:p> Wim= ,<o:p></o:p> I basically do it like Eric, laying = the stack so the hammer strike points face the bench top.  I then use a block of wood with = a slot cut in it to surround the hammer head and brace it, but expose the shank = end, so I can cut it off with Spurlock’s pull saw (3 swipes) and the = block prevents the saw from catching into the hammer felt itself after going = through the last of the shank and protects the saw teeth.  I then use a Dremel drum sander to pretty them.  = No burn, just factory-looking.  = It almost takes longer to vac all of the shank nubs = off the floor/bench than it does to do the job.  ;  )  = <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <st1:PersonName>Lance Lafargue</st1:PersonName>, RPT<o:p></o:p> LAFARGUE = PIANOS<o:p></o:p> New Orleans = Chapter, PTG<o:p></o:p> 985.72P.IANO<o:p><= /o:p> <st1:PersonName>= llafargue@charter.net</st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> -----Original = Message----- From: = caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On = Behalf Of Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel) Sent: Thursday, February = 19, 2004 1:58 PM To: 'College and = University Technicians' Subject: RE: sawing off hammershank tails <o:p> </o:p> Wim,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I’ve found this method to be the most = effective:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On the workbench, flip the action stack onto its front so the = hammers can individually come down onto the bench with the tails pointing up. I position the stack at a point near the edge of the bench so I can grab = one hammer head at a time with a plastic spring-clamp (available at = Big-Lots, 5 for a dollar) and brace the clamp with my hand against the front edge of the = bench. (Geesh, a picture really would be worth a thousand words here) . This = makes for a really firm anchor. I then cut the end of the shank off with one of = those beautiful Japanese pull-saws designed for cutting off dowels. = (#JBS-2204, page D-42 Pianotek catalog). Three or four pulls and its gone leaving a nice = slick, flush cut which needs no further treatment. Believe it or not, it only = takes 15 – 20 minutes to do the whole set this way. Its nice and quiet = too…<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p> Eric = Wolfley<o:p></o:p> Head Piano = Technician<o:p></o:p> Cincinnati College-Conservatory = of Music<o:p></o:p> University of = Cincinnati<o:p></o:p> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<o:p></o:p> <= span class=EmailStyle18><o:p> </o:p><= /p> -----Original Message----- From: Wimblees@aol.com [mailto:Wimblees@aol.com] Sent: Thursday, February = 19, 2004 12:57 PM To: caut@ptg.org Subject: sawing off = hammershank tails<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I used to saw off the ends of shanks with a Dremel saw. But Dremel discontinued = making them. (I guess too many people trying to stop the saw with their = fingers, and suing Dremel because it cut off their fingers.)<o:p></o:p></p= >  </f= ont><o:p></o:p></p= > For a while I was taking the hammers and shanks off, and trimming the tails = with a band saw. But lately I've been using a Heavy Duty Cutt-Off Wheel, no. = 420 from Dremel. I just did a set,  and it worked OK, except that it burns = the wood, which creates a bad smell, and I used 6 wheels. = <o:p></o:p></p= >  </f= ont><o:p></o:p></p= > Does anyone else have a way to trim the tails, other than using a band = saw?<o:p></o:p></p= >  </f= ont><o:p></o:p></p= > Wim = <o:p></o:p></p= > Willem Blees, RPT Piano tuner/technician School of Music University of Alabama<o:p></o:p></p= > </div> </body> </html>