softening crusty dampers

[piannaman at aol.com]

 HI Robin,
 
Thanks for the suggestion.  Nail files are great for all kinds of stuff.  I've used them for dampers before, but I don't know how well they'll work here.  The hardness seems a little deeper than surface.
 
At any rate, the action WILL be removed for this operation!
 
Thanks,
 
Dave Stahl



 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: tunerdude at comcast.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 6:29 AM
Subject: Re: softening crusty dampers


Hi Dave,
 
Not dealing with the presumed salt deposition as such, but with "crusty" dampers in general, I have had varying degrees of success in stroking the damper face with a disposal nail file and/or removing the action and applying a combination of water and fabric softner, although it is not easy to control the effects of the latter. Quite often, if there is just a hearty amount of "zinging" in the sound as the damper returns, the nail file stroking really helps. And only perhaps half a dozen light strokes at that. 
 
Robin Blankenship
----- Original Message ----- 
From: piannaman at aol.com 
To: pianotech at ptg.org 
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 9:24 AM
Subject: softening crusty dampers


 Hi folks,
 
A couple of days ago, I worked on a piano that has spent a good portions of it's life down by the old seashore.  There's rust in various places, but nothing is disintegrating yet.  It's a '70s aeolian console (aaargh!).
 
The most annoying problem, at least to the customer, is the buzzing sound created when the dampers seat on the strings.  The crust that has accumulated over time by the salt sea air has hardened the dampers considerably.
 
I've been wondering if anyone on this list has tried the various solutions and/or voicing techniques that are commonly used on hammers to deal with this.  
 
My thoughts:  squeeze, needle, file.  
 
Other possibilites:  alcohol-water, fabric softener, steam
 
It isn't worth doing a damper replacement, IMHO.  That would probably cost her more than she paid for the pso.
 
Any comments or ideas?
 
Thanks,
 
Dave Stahl




Dave Stahl Piano Service
650-224-3560
dstahlpiano at sbcglobal.net
http://dstahlpiano.net/





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