[pianotech] Impact Tuning Lever

[Norm Barrett]

I had one piano the pins were so tight that the Mahaffey could not lower 
the pitch. It came in about 30 cents sharp and I could not get the tip 
tight enough to move the pin. One bump and the tip was loose.
Norm Barrett

Farrell wrote:
> 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 <mailto:formsma at gmail.com>
>     *To:* pianotech at ptg.org <mailto: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
>     <mailto: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
>