Hard Hammers

[David Ilvedson]

Hee, hee...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 4/23/2008 6:25:06 PM
Subject: RE: Hard Hammers


>Sounds good.  And while you're replacing the broken shank, just glue on a
>softer hammer.  

> 

>David Love
>davidlovepianos at comcast.net
>www.davidlovepianos.com 

>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
>Of Dean May
>Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 9:39 AM
>To: 'Pianotech List'
>Subject: RE: Hard Hammers

> 

>Here is an idea for a needling tool. Someone who has too much time on their
>hands and likes to modify tools could build one for the rest of us. 

> 

>What if you took a small air nailer, say for brad nails, and modified the
>end of the piston that pushes the nail head so that it would accept and
>capture a single needle? With a single pull of the trigger it should easily
>fire the needle as deep as you want it to go and the spring loaded piston
>would pull it right back out. The business end of the nailer could be set up
>with an adjustable foot that could control the depth of penetration. 

> 

>The advantages would be the ability to get lots of deep needle penetration
>on hard hammers without wearing yourself out. It would also probably incur
>minimal stress on the hammer molding and glue joint compared to traditional
>needling. 

> 

>A hand operated staple gun might also work which would give more
>portability. 

> 

>Dean

>Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

>PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

>Terre Haute IN  47802

> 

>  _____  

>From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
>Of erwinspiano at aol.com
>Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:03 AM
>To: pianotech at ptg.org
>Subject: Re: Hard Hammers

> 




>  Hi John
>  Petrified felt,  yes indeed a, Paul Bailey coined phrase.
>   I've tried the Dremel many times & find it rather useless, but hey they
>can't be worse. I simply marvel at the lack of interest many piano makers
>have in tone as is evidenced by what they call piano hammers. Those who
>purchased the inexpensive pso simply need the paradigm shift that they got a
>bargain that they now need to invest in to make it a legitimate instrument.
>Like getting a great car cheap that needs a tune up & further performance
>enhancement. Ok....adequate car
>  All our heroic voicing efforts in these cases as I see it.... are not our
>problem.
> I of course, suggest a hammer transplant as usual.
>  A for effort John
>  Dale

>>...then perhaps its your general needling approach that needs adjusting.

> 

>Sometimes needles won't work at all.  Last week I was servicing a Wurlitzer

>grand with petrified hammers. A needle would not penetrate and squeezing

>with parallel pliers felt more like a piece of wood than felt.

> 

>I used a damp cloth and an iron on the shoulders and a little on the crown.

>This relaxed the hammer enough to be able to squeeze the shoulders with

>parallel pliers.  It was still plenty loud but the piercing edge was now
>gone.

> 

>I'm considering voicing with a fine drill bit and a Dremel tool on slow
>speed

>so as not to scorch the fibers. Maybe this will create small gaps for the
>fibers

>to expand into and ease the density. It certainly couldn't hurt these HSO's.

>-- 


>Regards,

>Jon Page

> 

>HSO: Hammer Shaped Object

>  _____  

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