[pianotech] Impact Tuning Lever

[Farrell]

Yup, that's it John - I have the Mehaffey impact lever. I've never been able to fine-tune a single string with it - but it sure is a shoulder/arm saver for pitch raising a piano with tight pins - works dandy for that.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Formsma 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 10:08 AM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Impact Tuning Lever


  To add to Terry's comments:
  I own a CyberHammer. It was one of the earlier ones, and not the titanium kind.  It works well, but I'm mostly using it only on pianos with really tight pins.  I find that using the Fujan carbon fiber lever with a karate chop motion works better for me ... except on those pianos with really tight pins.  The Fujan, for me, is faster and much lighter.  The CyberHammer I have is a bit over one pound.


  As far as hand fatigue goes, I think I had some of that even with the CH.  But after getting the muscles used to that new technique, everything is now fine.


  I think the older impact lever that Schaff sold was called the Mehaffey.  I used one of those briefly, but didn't ever feel comfortable with it.  The CH is a better tool.


  --
  JF


  On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 5:49 AM, Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:

    I have a Schaff impact lever also. I see in my Schaff Catalog they only offer the "Keyes" impact lever - that is not the one I have - I forget who the designer is.

    Be that as it may, I think all old-world impact levers are much to large and heavy for tuning. I put a bunch of felt on my lever and wrapped the entire thing with rubber tape - made it much more comfy. However, I only use it for pitch raises on pianos with tight tuning pins.

    IMHO, if one want to use/get an impact lever, there is only one source for impact levers for use in fine tuning - the Reyburn CyberHammer. http://www.reyburn.com/cyberhammer.html  I've tried his levers at conventions and they are simply amazing - very controlable. The difference between the cyberhammer and my clunky heavy impact lever is night-and-day.

    Check it out.

    Good luck.

    Terry Farrell
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