No needling here: to steam, or not to steam?

[Erwinspiano@aol.com]

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In a message dated 4/20/2004 8:03:52 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
Piannaman@aol.com writes:

She is at wit's end, and wants her old M and H tone back.  I said I'd come 
and check the piano out, and look into the possibility of steaming the hammers.  
I'm not certain how old the hammers are, but if something doesn't help them 
out soon, replacement will be in the cards(probably not a bad thing, except 
financially...:-(). 

Questions:  How well does this technique work on over-lacquered hammers?  Can 
someone describe the best way to go about it?  I've heard damp-cloth/dry iron 
works well. 

Maybe I should try side-needling....:-) 

Thanks for any input.  I'll be scoping the piano out on Thursday. 

Dave Stahl 
     Hold on Dave
  Don't bark up that steam treee yet. If it were I, I would first try to find 
out what was in the solution. Probably lacquer or keytop & acetone. Keytop is 
worse & harder to remove. Since its recent whatever it is will readily 
disolve with acetone. 
     But anyway Remove the stack & take it out side. Fill your large plastic 
needled  squeeze bottle with acetone. With the hammers positioned out away 
from the wippens with the tails on the concrete begin soaking the hammers. Get 
them wet & keep soaking them and allow for much acetone to run off the hammers. 
The idea is to   wash it down and out of the felt if possible. 
    Let it sit for five minutes & repeat again, & repeat again. Then let 
completely dry. After 2 or 3 hours you will know if you've succeded in washing the 
stuff out. 
    Unfortunately it's this kind of unskilled over application of juicing 
solutions which this viable voicing tool  a bad rap.
   Dale Erwin


Erwins Pianos Restorations 
4721 Parker Rd.
Modesto, Ca 95357
209-577-8397
Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales
www.Erwinspiano.com

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