Tuning Lever

[Joseph Garrett]

Michelle,
I have no experience with the Watanabe Tuning Hammer. My objections to it would be that it's Metric! (Hate Metric) Special U.S. Tips would not work on it, as far as I know. You'd best ask the list and find out who has one, to get a good answer. If the Watanabe has thin walled tips, Small #1 tips, #3 & #4 tips, Oval tips and/or adaptors for such, and at least a 10 degree head angle, then it would be sufficient
As for staying out of debt, lotsa luck there.<G> I've been on that mission my entire life.<G> My philosophy regarding getting a top quality to begin with is this: 1. The "Student Hammer" has always been a detriment to anyone trying to learn this art, IMO. Same as "student instruments" in trumpets, etc. Once a Student has played a high end trumpet, there's no turning back! Same with tuning hammers. "Student Hammers" are O.K. for the pianist who wants to touch up an annoying unison, from time to time, in order to maintain his/her musical sanity.<G> That's all it's good for IMO.

Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Michelle Smith 
To: joegarrett at earthlink.net;Pianotech List
Sent: 4/4/06 9:37:03 AM 
Subject: Re: Tuning Lever


I understand the concept of buying a "good" one to begin with.  There's also the issue of my husband trying to keep us out of debt while I pursue this new endeavor.  =)


I haven't heard anyone mention the Watanabe lever.  Is there a reason for this besides the fact that it's in the same category/price range as the Schaff?


Michelle Smith
Student Tuner
Bastrop, Texas




On Apr 4, 2006, at 11:14 AM, Joseph Garrett wrote:


I think that one will do a better job, if you aren't fighting the tool! My experience with Schaff hammers is that they are too, (for lack of a better word), "clunky", as in cumbersome and out of balance. Tis' better to pop for the expensive one FIRST, IMO. That way you won't be buying buckets of the dang things, trying tofind the "perfect" one.
I had the great experience of using a titanium hammer, the other day, (my mentored Associate has one), and I found it to be excellent. As in better than any that I own, at present. (I have at least 12 of various configurations.<G> Never counted, but that sounds about the right number.<G>) It had a nice balance and it didn't seem to fatigue me like others do.
Of course, there are reasons to have more than one: some pianos require a lighter hammer to compensate for loose pins, etc. Some pianos require a "brute force" tuning hammer, because of extremely tight pins. Some pianos are so out of tune that you need an impact to help insure that strings won't break while you are "cranking" that puppy. Some have tuning pins so damned close to each other that you need to have a balanced hammer and thin wall tip to manuever from pin to pin. I could go on forever, but won't, as I suspect you get the idea. Having lots of different toys...er tools is a good thing, IMO.
Regards,
Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I



----- Original Message -----
From: John Delmore
To: joegarrett at earthlink.net;Pianotech List
Sent: 4/4/06 8:25:15 AM
Subject: RE: Tuning Lever


Do tell, Captain!!!  I just got my first “real” lever yesterday, haven’t had much time to play with it, but it already “feels’’ better.  Did I waste all that money on the Schaff extension?  (I tried to get a vintage Hale about a month ago, but Mr.Greely outbid me!!)  Like many here, I seem to have a “tool fetish”, and I realize that it will lead to a multitude of pin-turning appliances, and I think a “ball-grip” will be next.  Or a Fujan.  Or an impact….  But, what is your suggestion?  Am I a Luddite for going for the “old style” first?
John Delmore




From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Joseph Garrett
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 9:55 AM
To: pianotech
Subject: Re: Tuning Lever

Michelle asked: "Can someone please explain the difference between the two
(besides size!) and which would be better for general use?"

Michelle,
Neither one!


Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20060404/2a46385c/attachment.html