steam voicing

[Meyer Carl]

A simple dimmer control for about 2-3 dollars works jujst fine for a temp
control for any kind of resistive load up to about 600 watts.  Beats those
expensive controllers that are only marginally better.  They can even be
used for controlling vacuum motors for player piano use.  Maybe not UL
approved if you care.

Carl Meyer

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Musial" <piano@villagehost.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, January 19, 2001 5:12 PM
Subject: Re: steam voicing


> Hi
> > Hello Michael. I'm curious what kind of problems have you had trying to
> > steam voice. I (and others?) may be having problems and don't even know
it
> > (now THAT's a problem!).
>
> I experimented a bit and then did two complete steam voicings. The
> first was on some VERY bright vertical hammers. The results were not
> that great. Trying this with the action still in the piano was not a
> good thing for me to do either. I sizzled my fingers a few times :)
> The second try was on a very bright Baldwin 226E grand. I steamed the set
of
> hammers twice and was not satisfied with the results. I came back a
> few weeks later and used water/alcohol followed by needling. That did
> the trick. The customer was quite pleased.
>
> I wrung out the cloth as best I could before placing it on the
> hammers, but I could only do three or four hammers before the iron
> cooled off, then I had to wait a good 90 seconds before proceeding to
> the next three or four. That was very frustrating. I then tried my 80
> watt iron without a controller... MUCH too hot!  I need to get a
> wattage controller ( Schaff's is $80.. ouch!)
>
> Michael Musial
> Reedsville Pa
>
>