lesser of touch weight evils...

[Barbara Richmond]

Hi Joe,

They <will> get reduced somewhat after a good shaping.  I haven't weighed 
any parts yet.

Barbara

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joe And Penny Goss" <imatunr at srvinet.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 8:14 PM
Subject: Re: lesser of touch weight evils...


> 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
>>
>