[pianotech] Wurzen/Weickert felt

[David Andersen]

Thank you, D. Stanwood and JD. Old ways is best ways sometimes, yes? I  
am humbled by your wells of skill, craft, and knowledge.
In your debt,
David Andersen


On Feb 17, 2009, at 9:30 AM, John Delacour wrote:

> At 08:28 -0500 17/2/09, David C. Stanwood wrote:
>
>> ...Bill Garlick taught us a technique which is very useful on these  
>> cold pressed hammers as a really safe way of using lacquer for  
>> building drive in the tone.  Tip the stack up on its side and add  
>> some lacquer to the felt just above the tip of the moulding... do  
>> one side then turn it around and do the other... It gives  
>> foundation to the tone without having any deleterious effects on  
>> the surface of the felt and maintains a beautiful ppp quality that  
>> is the hallmark of a cold pressed hammer.  The technique is  
>> consistent with the Dolge model of voicing.
>
> Yes, this is the way I do it when I need to use lacquer/dope.  Since  
> I rarely find this necessary except sometimes in the high treble, I  
> apply the dope with a needle -- one single toning needle in a  
> holder. I lay the hammer on its side, dip the needle into a  
> container of lacquer and push it into the hammer at point round the  
> tip of the moulding.  This is done from both sides.  This way there  
> is absolutely no risk of putting in too much and having it wick up  
> to the crown. If a second application is needed, more dope can be  
> injected round the moulding and there is little risk of it going to  
> far because the first application has already formed a barrier.
>
> Brinsmead is the only maker I know from the old days who regularly  
> lacquered hammers and I think it was probably done with a hair  
> pencil.  They used shellac, applied near the tip of the moulding.
>
> I would never let any dope or lacquer near the crown of the hammer  
> and am surprised to hear some people do.
>
> I also differ from some Americans on the list in considering hammers  
> that are soft from the box defective.  The hammers I buy are always  
> just a little on the bright side and can be toned to perfection  
> using only radial needling for the basic work.  This goes for  
> hammers covered in a variety of felt including Wurzen's.
>
> JD
>
>
>