softening crusty dampers

[Robin Blankenship]

Conrad,

Quite so. Any idea what is causing the crust?? I had long attributed it to 
accumulation of stuff out of the air, since it often seemed to be just a 
'crust', at the surface. But, now, with you prediciton of its return, I 
wonder about the true source. And, more to be encountered in inexpensive 
little verticals, too, rather than nicer instruments. An inherent deficiency 
in the felt itself perhaps???

Robin


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Conrad Hoffsommer" <hoffsoco at luther.edu>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: softening crusty dampers


> At 10:31 AM 9/20/2006 -0400, you wrote:
>>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 -----
>>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 -----
>>
>>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.
>>
>>Dave Stahl
>
>
> I seem to be outnumbered by those recommending this or that softening 
> technique, and all the alternate suggestions have their merit (having 
> tried most, over the years) but, at least in this institutional setting, 
> the only permanent (errrr...  longest lasting) solution is replacement.
>
> Just as beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone, and 
> similar to trying to rinse out $&$ vertigris, the crust _will_ reassert 
> itself.
>
>
>
>
> Conrad Hoffsommer - Keyboard Technician
> Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
> 1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076
>
> - Right now, I'm hoping to live until my age matches my golf score,
> - Until then, I'll have to be content to have my IQ match my handicap.
>
>