impact hammer technique tips?

[Ken Jankura]

Tom,
   I was in a bar playing music a month or so ago, and some guy found out I
was a tuner and asked me if I wanted to buy a wrench thing for tuning pianos
that he had gotten in a box lot at a public auction. When he said that it
had this big brass weight on one end I said I might be interested. He lived
one block from the bar so he left and brought back a beautiful Rolls Impact
which he sold to me for $20. I have been using it ever since and I like it.
(Sorry, I just had to tell that story). I had purchased a Schaff adjustable
years ago and never quite got the hang of it. But I am convinced correct use
of an impact lever is much easier on the body and mine (body that is) gives
me trouble sometimes so I am determined to use it.
  Paul Adams and Mitch Keil have given classes on impact lever use and you
would do well to catch either of their classes.
  The main thing is to hold it at the swivel point and 'throw' it to move
the pin. Don't subject your arm (elbow, shoulder, etc.) to the jolt of
impact. Let the tool do the work. A practiced small wrist movement and you'd
be surprised how little actual physical exertion is necessary to tune a
piano.
  That being said, really tight pins sometimes necessitate that you hold it
somewhere along the length or the end to help do the work.
   I use a SAT so my test blows tell me immediately whether the pin has
moved and stabilized or whether I need to tune sharp and impact it down. I
generally go sharp.
  With both very loose or very tight pins, you will find it easier to use
your old lever.
  Great info in the 4/01 Journal by Keith Bowman.

Ken Jankura, RPT
(new home)Fayetteville, PA


----- Original Message -----
From: <Tvak@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 7:48 PM
Subject: impact hammer technique tips?


> I bought an impact hammer from APSCO and it arrived today.  So I took it
for
> a spin on a Cable console.  Did a pitch raise first, and of course, found
it
> difficult to get the strings to go exactly where I wanted them, but then
on
> the second pass I kinda got the hang of it and I'd have to say I liked it,
> and would like to get to know this thingee better.  For the most part, I
> found the pins to stay right where I put 'em and I liked that.  I did have
> several that slipped big time, though, so I know I don't really have the
hang
> of it yet.
>
> Are there any source books available on impact hammer technique?  My
initial
> questions are pretty basic, though; perhaps someone here on the list could
> give me some clues, as I am clueless.  So let me ask:   When I pop the pin
> into place and it's in tune, should I leave it there, or should I attempt
to
> pop it slightly sharp and back it down into tune, like with a conventional
> hammer?  Is two o'clock a good position for the hammer?  (Seemed
comfortable
> and workable for me, although in the last octave I banged my fingers on
the
> cabinet because I didn't realize where the position of the head was in
> relation to the
> handle---OUCH!  I only did that ONCE.)  The handle is longer than my
> conventional tuning hammer, and so I was uncomfortable with my hand that
high
> in the air, so at one point I started holding it in the middle of the
length
> of the handle instead of the near the end and that seemed to increase my
> control.  Is there a consensus on where the impact hammer is to be held?
>
> To any advocates of the impact hammer who would like to share some tips on
> basic technique, I thank you in advance.
>
> Tom Sivak
>
>