softening crusty dampers

[Mike McCoy]

Hi Dave,

 As taught to me by Ken Jankura... a strip of sandpaper about an inch or 
2 wide laid against the strings between damper and string, press damper 
head lightly against the paper and pull the strip up, only takes one or 
two swipes to remove the zing. No need to remove the action, takes 10 
minutes. Assuming this piano is not worth a real damper job.

Mike

piannaman at aol.com wrote:
>  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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