[pianotech] Hammer Softener

[Barbara Richmond]

Hi John, 

You'd be amazed at the results that can be had with softener on over-lacquered hammers. When I was on staff a Illinois Wesleyan, ALL the Steinways qualified for the treatment. Just go slow, because you CAN over do it. If you need to, you can always use a hardener again, but I wouldn't want to go back and forth a lot! Denatured alcohol works, too. 

Actually, I sort of liked working with those hammers. After I softened them where (in the hammer) I wanted, I could treat them (voicing-wise) like "regular" hammers. 

Barbara Richmond, RPT 
near Peoria, Illinois 



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Formsma" <formsma at gmail.com> 
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org> 
Sent: Monday, December 6, 2010 7:54:11 AM 
Subject: [pianotech] Hammer Softener 

Hello all, 


I don't really have any prior experience using chemical hammer softeners, so I'm looking for some ideas for a job I have tomorrow. I'll be using Pianotek's hammer softener. 


The victim is a "rebuilt" Steinway with Steinway hammers. I'm not sure exactly who did the work, but the treble hammers are pretty much rocks. This piano is in a church sanctuary in which the carpet has been recently removed (hardwood floors now). It has always been too bright, but now is excessively so. I've told the music director that there is not a great hope for the sound he's wanting unless the hammers are replaced. So at least we have a good understanding on the outcome--we both know this is somewhat experimental. 


Last week, I tried some of the chemical softener. Prior to its application, voicing needles wouldn't penetrate deep enough to do any good. I made maybe 3-4 small applications in the upper treble. Each time, there was a small but noticeable reduction in the harshness and volume. After all those applications, the needles went a little deeper than before. I'm wondering if perhaps repeated applications will get the tone closer to what is desired. 


Keep going slowly, or do a big dousing with the stuff since the hammers are so hard at present? I'm assuming the general idea is for the softener to flush the solids from the top down, right? So I'm guessing apply it right to the crown of the hammer? 


Any other things that might help? 


Thanks in advance. 

-- 
JF 
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