softening crusty dampers

[piannaman at aol.com]

Thanks for all the great responses.  The main problem is with the bicord and monocord dampers.  They should be replaced, I agree, but the piano is not the greatest insturument ever built.  If I can't get a satisfactory result early on in my attempts to soften the felt, I'll suggest it to the owner.   
 
 
 
Dave Stahl




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



 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: tunerdude at comcast.net
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 8:17 AM
Subject: Re: softening crusty dampers


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. 
> 
>  
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