steaming hammers, again

[Dave Nereson]

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 List:  I know there was a thread about steaming hammers a few months =
ago, but I don't know how to access the archives.  How does one do that? =
 =20
     I've seen one demonstration of steam voicing at a convention, and =
it did indeed improve the tone, making  the hammer "bloom", or expand =
out, making the flat striking surface more round again, and getting rid =
of most of the string grooves without having to file and remove felt.  =
But the tone was evaluated immediately after the steaming.  What happens =
after the steam moisture dries?  Does the hammer felt shrink again, =
making it denser, causing a brighter, harder tone?     =20
     I've heard of Woolite and Downy being used for hammer softening -- =
are they essentially the same thing chemically?  I know Woolite, rather =
than regular detergent, should be used for washing wool sweaters, but =
the compressed felt of piano hammers is not the loose knit of a sweater. =
 What is the actual chemical or physical action on the hammer felt of  =
a) steam  b) Woolite, Downy, etc. ?=20
    I guess what I want to know (again) is:  Besides restoring the =
original shape of the hammer (somewhat), is the purpose of steaming to  =
soften hard hammers  or  to shrink soft hammers and make them harder? =20
    --Dave Nereson, RPT, Denver=20

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