[pianotech] hammer return noise and update

[William Truitt]

I don't recall you saying what make this piano is, but some keybeds,
particularly laminated ones, can be very noisy. I have removed the mounting
block that the lyre attaches to on some pianos, and put a layer of felt in
between its top and the bottom of the keybed to help quiet it down.  I think
I learned that one from Willis Snyder.

Also, are you sure some of the keys aren't chucking and making noise?

Will Truitt

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Gene Nelson
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 5:52 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] hammer return noise and update

>>    Was the noise there before the
> key buttons were changed?
> Ron N

Don't know. Just took measurements and tore it apart quite a while ago as 
part of the restoration. It was in junkyard condition.
However, you have given me one additional technique for locating noise - 
thank you.
Having been working on it off and on this morning I have found that my jack 
knuckle alignment did need minor touch up. I was able to quiet 11 keys just 
by moving them forward about 1/4 to 1/3 or so turn on the regulating screw.
Also took some 220 grit to the back edge of the jack, rounding it ever so 
slightly - 5 more became quieter.
Hanging a hammer on a WNG and Renner shank and exchanging for the worst 
offenders did nothing.
Re-pinning rep lever and increasing friction to 5g on the worst offenders 
did nothing.
Deep needling the knuckle through the buckskin into the core did almost 
nothing, maybe a slight improvement on some - knuckles feel soft to me - not

much different than WNG or Renner.
Re-examining the keys I found 8 that had been slightly over-eased at the 
balance hole - resized them and it helped a bit but not a cure.
Reduced rep spring tension and rep lever height to minimum on the worst 
offenders - it really helped only one key, none of the others.
It appears that there may be more than one issue going on here and my ears 
can only hear one noise type???
When I remove the stack later to check as you suggest, I will also deep 
needle some whip heal cushions and add some protek before reassembling.
It has been fun.
Gene