Bud, I will be very apprecitive for this information too. My zapper died and got cremated a number of years and moves ago and I have recently been wishing I still had it. It can be a useful tool to add to our arsenal. Thank you for going to this effort for us! Diane >From: Bud Schwab <budschwab@earthlink.net> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org >To: pianotech@ptg.org >Subject: Re: zapper for sluggish action >Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 19:46:37 -0800 > > > >Hi Susan, > >I got an inquiry from Dan Hallett today and I am sending along the answer I >sent to him. I'll contact you guys tomorrow when I find out a few things >as to availability of parts. I guess I don't have your email address so I >can just send it to the list. > > > >Hi Dan, > >The basic part of the zapper is a transformer that delivers a low voltage >at a fairly high current. I used to use what's called a filament >transformer that was used in radios when they had tubes. I am going to >Radio Shack tomorrow and I'll find out what is available for that purpose, >or there are radio supply stores here in the Los Angeles area. You just >run two wires from the two low voltage side of the transformer and put some >type of metal strip at the end to contact the centerpin. I will write >again in a day or so when I find out where you can get the material and let >you know. I hope that's clear enough. I never saw any of Mehaffey's >zappers so I don't know how they looked, but you can get a box to mount the >transformer with a jack to plug the wires in. There are many physical >possibillities as to how it could be constructed. Please let me know if >you have further questions. > >Bud >>Dear Bud: >> >>Susan Kline said to ask you how to make a 'Zapper' as she thinks Francis >>Mehaffey isn't making them any more. >> >>Or - do you know anyone that is making them. >> >>Dan Hallett >At 04:05 PM 11/28/00 -0700, you wrote: > >> > If a little dose of hair dryer and a dampp chaser rod aren't enough, I >> > bite the bullet, take the action home, and repin all the hammer >>centers. >> > Plus I zap or repin any slow jack and wippen centers I find. It takes >> > awhile, but I've seen too many truly seized actions from someone >>spraying >> > in some magic potion. If you just do the whole thing, it is fixed, and >> > the sluggishness won't come back to plague you. >> > >> > Susan >> > >>Hey Bud & Susan, >> >> I would like to get a zapper too, because this will be a repair for a >>store which doesn't want to admit they sold a sick piano, yesterday I was >>scolded by the store owner for not being diplomatic with the customer. >> >> I am sorry if it doesn't work, I will tell them frankly not try to >>hide >>behind some salesman rhetoric. >> >> I know if I repin the flanges it will take plenty of hours and I >>wouldn't be compensated properly enough to begin with, nor do I have much >>time this month.... If it is something that I can fix during a tuning >>then >>I will be a hero and called back in good favor. >> >> If I can't get a zapper could you please describe it exactly so that >>I >>can make one? >> >> Thanks, >> >>Eliot > > Bud Schwab >W 6 Z Y P >Malibu, california > > > Diane Hofstetter 245-M Mount Hermon Rd. Scotts Valley, CA 95066 ph 831-438-6222 fax 831-430-9741 dianepianotuner@hotmail.com _____________________________________________________________________________________ Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : http://explorer.msn.com
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