Hammer steaming

[John Musselwhite]

>It's a fairly straight forward operation.  Using an electric kettle (I've
>always thought they were called hot pots...used to have a small one for tea
>and coffee back in college), you get the water boiling rapidly, then with the
>action out and resting on your lap, you insert and remove the hammer head

Before I try this (perhaps tomorrow morning on a Kawai action I'm about to
pick up) can an over-steamed hammer be restored by ironing? This Kawai
(GS-30) has been overly bright since new and I've never been able to get the
mellow sound out of it the owners would like. On the other hand, I don't
want to ruin it!

I also look after a Yamaha G-2 (in the Banff Springs Hotel) that I've tried
almost everything to bring down (except fabric softener which I'm extremely
hesitant to try). Would this instrument be a candidate for the steam treatment?

And finally, a customer has a Steinway M which had new (factory) hammers in
the seventies but they were never lacquered. The customer complains the tone
is too bright but the fibres just shred when they are filed and needles drop
in by gravity. I would juice the hammers first and then file and needle but
the customer is worried the piano will be too loud and bright after that and
won't sanction the work. Would steaming help?

                John

John Musselwhite, RPT               Calgary, Alberta Canada
musselj@cadvision.com       john.musselwhite@67.cambo.cuug.ab.ca