reducing hammer weight

[David Love]

You will not be able to reduce the weight that much by drilling holes.
Depending on the set and the overall size of the hammer and the density of
the molding, reducing note 40, for example, by 1 gram requires a full taper
from end to end on both sides.  You can get proportionately more on larger
hammers and less on smaller hammers. 

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 William Monroe
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 4:58 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: reducing hammer weight

I should add that I'd like to reduce the weight by 0.7g - 1.0g.

WRM



> Hi List,
>
> I'd like to know what you think of reducing hammer weight by drilling a 
> small diameter hole (or two) in the molding.  Has anyone done this?  I 
> know the Stanwood technique of doing just that to add weight in the form 
> of lead to the hammer, but haven't heard of just drilling out to reduce 
> weight.
>
> I've a set of hammers that I'd like to reduce the weight on, but I'm 
> pleased with the shape, width, etc. of them.  What would you do??
>
> Thanks,
> William R. Monroe