Impact tuning hammers

[Michael Magness]

On 9/17/07, Leslie Bartlett <l-bartlett at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>  I bought an impact hammer from Schaff, dropped a 3/8" shield about 5"
> long around the handle, filled the space with epoxy, then added a tennis
> racket handle tape and think I've got a marvelous impact tool.
> les bartlett
>
>  ------------------------------
> *From:* pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On
> Behalf Of *pianotuna55 at comcast.net
> *Sent:* Monday, September 17, 2007 8:36 PM
> *To:* Pianotech List
> *Subject:* Re: Impact tuning hammers
>
>
>  Hi Tom:
> Years ago, I bought a Keys hammer from Schaff and thought it would be
> great because of the adjustable weight but the overall weight was too heavy
> and really tired my entire arm.  After one piano I was gone!  Also the shaft
> is too small and needs padding as Bill mentioned.  Well, I put mine back in
> a tool box and there it sat for years until a friend of  in our chapter
> showed me his Reyburn hammer and said use it until next meeting and let me
> know what you think.  The hammer is lighter than any of the other hammers,
> the shaft is padded with rubber golf grip and the weight is fixed.   After
> one pitch raise I was sold!  It works.   They are a little pricey but  a
> great tool  no matter how tight the pins.  The weight doesn't need to be
> adjusted.   The trick was to lighten the entire hammer.  It may/may not be
> for you.  Good luck looking........
> Howard Jackson
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: "Thos Carpenter" <cathomas1003 at qwest.net>
> Dear List,
> I am looking at impact tuning hammers.  The only ones I`ve found so far
> are 2 that Schaff offers and the ones available from Reyburn.
> I am intrigued by the Keyes lever (Schaff) because it has an adjustable
> weight to control the effect based on tuning pin torque.
> Are there any more available an/or comments?
> thanks,
> Tom Carpenter
>
>
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>

Hi Tom,

I have no experience with them and have never had any interest in trying
them. I've seen them advertised with the exotic woods and more exotic prices
but I always figured if I just kept my concentration on the job at hand I'd
do fine with my old rosewood extension hammer(the one I've never extended).
Yes, I've had the odd Baldwin that was pinned so tight, I was positive I put
a twist in those pins but those are rare birds these days. I'm in my 38th
year and haven't come across the piano yet that was so tight I needed a $250
or $300 tuning hammer to do the job. Fine tuning is about nuance, how
doesone get nuance out of an IMPACT hammer? I've never been able to figure
that out. Of course I'm 6'4" weigh in about 285 and have a 38" sleeve length
so I may have some advantage over some of the other guys, size wise. However
2 years ago this November I took a fall while I was putting the siding on my
shop and couldn't raise my right arm above my shoulder when I got up. I went
to the clinic and the doc said I had a muscle tear, gave me a prescription
for an antinflammatory. 3 weeks later I had an appointment to see my regular
Doc and the shoulder still hurts, he checks it out and says he thinks it's a
rotator cuff tear and sends me to Physical therapy. 6 weeks later I'm not
improving, therapist sends me back to the doc who orders an MRI. I had a
full tear in my right rotator cuff, I found this out Feb 2, I did the
original injury Nov. 9, I go to see the surgeon who says, I think you
rehabbed it tuning pianos! He could do surgery but it would mean 6 months
downtime! I'm doing pretty good as is, I can even lift a piano!
My point is I tuned, with a regular tuning hammer and an unstable shoulder
through one of the busiest times of our  tuning year. Work on your hammer
technique, that's my advice.

Mike

-- 
Never become so much of an expert that you stop gaining expertise. View life
as a continuous learning experience.
- Denis Waitley


Michael Magness
Magness Piano Service
608-786-4404
www.IFixPianos.com
email mike at ifixpianos.com
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