Alcohol and hard hammers

[David Ilvedson]

It's all in the archives...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Phil Bondi" <phil at philbondi.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 9/15/2006 2:10:00 AM
Subject: Re: Alcohol and hard hammers


>David Andersen said:

> > I would suggest steam; there is plenty of info in the 
>archives about
> > how to steam hammers; this, IMO, is the best, quickest,
> > most controllable, least messy way to soften rock-hard 
>hammers.

>Ric Brekne wrote:

>> Roger Jolly will supply you with a more complete description of this 
>> process.


>I'm not Roger Jolly - nor do I ever want to be..but 
>learning how to control-steam 
>bricks-at-the-end-of-hammer-shanks is not hard. ____A 
>little bit goes a long way____. That's probably the most 
>important thing to remember.

>Another thing to remember to those who are thinking about 
>experimenting with this softening method: it does not work 
>on lacquered hammers..it does, but you run the risk of 
>ruining the hammers if you try softening w/ steam to 
>lacquered hammers. Steam works very effectively on hammers 
>that have been hardened w/acetone and keytops...which 
>nowadays is true for most pianos.

>Get a Hammer Head Iron..a100% cotton rag - a small plastic 
>bowl for water, and go to town.

>This method is easier to show that it is to explain.

>Right Rog??!? - David??!

>-Phil Bondi(Fl)