softening crusty dampers

[Robin Blankenship]

Barbara,

To which surface do you apply the needle(s)??? I've seen it done going in from the end the damper and very gently separating the fibers. I'm guess that in this case, doing both sanding and needling will be necessary, if not chemical treatment. 

Robin
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Barbara Richmond 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 10:06 AM
  Subject: Re: softening crusty dampers


  Hi Dave,

  I suppose the degree of crusty would make a difference, but lately I had success on the bass dampers (mono- & bichords) of a grand using my sanding file and voicing needles.

  Barbara Richmond, RPT
  near Peoria, IL 
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: piannaman at aol.com 
    To: pianotech at ptg.org 
    Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 8:24 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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