tech tip: filing hammers

[Barb Barasa]

The Great Fred Tremper and Allan Day taught me to file hammers while the
action was in a cradle, so the action is actually lying "on its back" and is
in the same position as if the hammers were on a grand action.  I can't
imagine doing it any other way, because I can't imagine how you could see
the results well any other way.

Barb Barasa
Sycamore IL

>I was taught to file upright hammers while facing the action, as if it were
>in the piano. One problem I always encountered was that I would not file as
>much off the bottom of the hammers, as from the top.
>
>Just recently I discovered another way of filing hammers that allows me to
>file as much off the bottom as off the top, and at the same time, make sure
>the hammers are filed smooth. I do this by filing the hammers with the
>dampers facing me. This gives me total access to the hammers, and, as I
>mentioned, allows me to see the crowns much better, thus making sure they are
>not only square, but also smooth. Of course the action has to sit on the
>bench for this, but even if it takes 5 minutes to remove the action, the time
>saved, and the cleaner job of filing, makes it worth while.
>
>Maybe someone else has already thought of this before, but for me, it was a
>"new discovery".
>
>Just thought I'd pass it on.
>
>Wim Blees  RPT
>St. Louis.
>