lesser of touch weight evils...

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Barbara,
With the DW's you give is there a possibility of putting the hammers on a
diet?
Joe Goss RPT
Mother Goose Tools
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barbara Richmond" <piano57 at insightbb.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 6:50 PM
Subject: lesser of touch weight evils...


> Hi all,
>
> Took a look at a Steinway A III (1921) today at a church.  The action had
> been rebuilt sometime in the transition out of Teflon.  The repetitions
are
> Teflon, but the shanks/flanges are cloth bushed & have those dark colored
> knuckles.  The piano plays like a truck, but sounds fairly nice (I'm
> assuming the restringing job was done at the same time).  Of course, the
> instrument has just been purchased (a technician, not I, gave it the OK--I
> would have OK'd it, but mentioned the action) and there is either not
enough
> money for a new action, or the music director feels like he would take a
lot
> of heat for buying a piano that could use a new action.  I pointed out to
> him that he got a good price for the piano and investing in a new action
> wouldn't make their cash outlay more than it's worth.
>
> The music director doesn't mind the touch, but he uses the piano for
> teaching and the students are struggling.
>
> #     D     U
> C1   78   30
> C2   75   20
> C3   65   21
> C4   64   29
> C5   64   25
> C6   64   24
> C7   62   23
> C8   54   25
>
>
> As you can see, the friction is high--I checked out the hammer flange
> pinning--some were a problem and some were not.  I figure some repinning,
> polishing and lubing w/Teflon powder will help <somewhat>.
>
> I measured the knuckle/center pin distance and it varied from 15 to 16 mm
> with everything in between.  The16 mm was only on C8, by the way.
>
> Maybe I don't have enough information, but here's the question anyway:  In
> an effort to do something that would help--if I were to use that handy
> Kaplan knuckle moving jig and install new knuckles at say, 16mm, do you
> think it would make enough of a difference in the touch, or would I just
be
> spinning my wheels because of the Teflon repetitions.  Stupid me, I didn't
> have test parts with me (40 miles from home) and, of course, didn't travel
> with my Stanwood kit because I was told it only needed a little
regulating.
> Lesson learned.
>
> BTW, I used my new Edward's action caddy today.  It's pretty slick!
>
> Thanks for your thoughts,
>
> Barbara Richmond, RPT
> near Peoria, IL
>