Hello Try this for a controlled focused use of steam. 1) Cut a very thin cloth into a strip approx. 18 inches long by 4 inches wide. 2) Wet cloth 3) Wring out cloth well so it is only damp wet, not dripping wet. 4) Support the hammer section to be voiced with a rail, and lay the damp cloth over the hammers. 5) Iron the hammers individually in the desired area with a hammer iron, or as a group with an iron. I prefer individual ironing, as the tone and duration of the sizzle cues me to drive an equal amount of steam with each touch of the iron. This method allows focused application of steam to just the tip, or just the shoulder as desired. I find steaming in this way is like sugar coating, getting rid of the "uglies", but fails to add anything. It removes content, not adding content to the tone. Deep needling of the shoulders can bolster lower partials, power, and sustain. I have found steam voicing very effective for quick results that are dramatic and pleasing on very hard hammers that seem to be prevalent among certain new piano brands as delivered. Quikly getting rid of some bite on these pianos is often good to my ear. Cheers David Renaud RPT Canada -------------------------------------------- Greetings, How do you control the steam stream while executing the steam hammer softening method? I would be concerned about having hammers unravelling off the core. Julia Gottshall Reading, PA __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
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