Non-smelly Hammer Juice

[Roger Jolly]

Hi Alan,
              Some hammer suppliers do a certain amount of pre voicing. In 
the case of Steinway, some filing, and some laquer.   Abels are pre filed 
etc.  Baldwin just supplies raw hammers.  They usually need some pre 
needling along the depression of the cup line, to reduce the cup, and about 
1/16" of felt removed to cut into some firm felt.  This is best done on the 
bench before the hammers are hung.   I usually clamp all the tails, and 
gang file them.   Very rarely have I had to juice Baldwin vertical hammers, 
other than the top octave.
String/hammer fitting is also very important for a good singing tone.

Regards Roger


At 11:06 AM 12/11/02 -0600, you wrote:
>Hmmm ... Ironing I understand. But by "filing" do you mean taking off felt?
>I don't understand that idea on new hammers. Or are you really talking about
>just "polishing" them with some fine-grit emery paper?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Alan Barnard
>Salem, MO
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Roger Jolly" <roger.j@sasktel.net>
>To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
>Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2002 10:27 AM
>Subject: Re: Non-smelly Hammer Juice
>
>
> >
> > Hi Alan,
> >               Have you filed them?   Filing and ironing them will brighten
> > them up quite a bit.
> > Roger
> >
> > At 12:37 AM 12/11/02 -0600, you wrote:
> > >I've got some new bass hammers in a Baldwin 6000 that sound like
> > >marshmallows gently wafting against bedsprings--no power at all.
> > >
> > >Where the piano is, I can't put anything on them that will be too stinky
> > >or hazardous to breathe. How can I harden these babies without
>traditional
> > >lacquer?
> > >
> > >Alan Barnard
> > >Salem, MO
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
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