Friends: Periodically I come across a cheap console or spinet where the hammer felt has come unglued from the molding. It happened again today. When I first opened the lid of the piano I saw how the last piano tuner dealt with the problem. I wondered how long it took for him, after he reglued the felt, to get that thick thread tied tight enough to hold the hammer together for those 5-6 hammers until the glue dried. The method I use may not be for everyone and is probably not original with me. I put some of Ed Dryburgh's thick CA glue on the felt and squeeze the hammer so I can see if I have enough glue and to get it on both surfaces. I let it pop apart, give it a squirt of accelerator, then immediately clamp it with my fingers and hold maybe 15-20 seconds. Done. Plusses: fast, works. So far I haven't had one of these glue joints fail. Minuses: got to have the felt positioned right the first time, got to have strong fingers, getting your fingers glued to the hammers! But if anyone is still trying to tie thread around the hammers, you might want to give this a try. If you glue yourself to the piano, remember, I warned you! :-) Clyde Hollinger, RPT Lititz, PA
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