steinway over hardened hammer

[Erwinspiano@aol.com]

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In a message dated 5/6/2004 12:03:19 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
Richard.Brekne@grieg.uib.no writes:
Of course this requires a hammer that has tension available to release. 
Lacquered hammers do not. Or if they ever did the lacquer inhibits 
that.... so once you go down that lacquer road you've forever removed 
this quality from the hammer.  I would suspect that's a big part of why 
many voicers view lacquer with such disdain. Taking that quality from 
the hammer is tantamount to wrecking the hammer in these folks minds.  
Just like stabbing deep down the throat through the crown will kill the 
hammer.  I tend to agree really.

Cheers
RicB
      Hey Ric, David, Andre ,Horace & all
  Finally a piano post that needs more discussion.
  Ric I will once again say that this term (tension) above that's underlined 
is misleading. The Ronsen hammers are incredibly tensioned & will still be 
with some lacquer added. The felt is stretched around the molding unlike any 
thing I've ever seen. It is a real spring. If you have the opportunity take one 
and slice it open from the bottom or top & it just blooms open like a flower 
immediately. 
     Other less stiff hammers like Isaacs & Steinway do this less. So to be 
clear I'm taking issue with the word tension in how your using it. The hammer 
you are referring to is a great hammer but its very compacted & densified.  I 
know when your needling it that it behaves as if there is some kind of 
power/tension  that's waiting to be unleashed by the needle but I think your just 
redistributing the springiness of very compacted felt to less compacted felt & 
thus more springiness & not true tension. The quality of the Wurzen felt gives 
you way more latitude with this style of hammer.
  The other factor I may be ignorant of (There are so many) is that Andre is 
probably getting them to control the densification which would lead to more 
true tension & springiness. The problem with making hammers  is that in order to 
get the bass hammers to be stiff enough for an adequate tone right out of the 
box is that the whole felt sheet in the press  needs to be packed adequately 
to harden the bass but the top end then often becomes too compacted. Making 
hammers is a true & difficult art form. Any one making good hammers should be 
saluted & supported for there efforts.
   Regards,
   Dale


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

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