[pianotech] FW: Tuning hammer heads

[David Nereson]

In my experience, at least 10 degrees is necessary on most 
pianos, or the tuning hammer handle hits the plate struts or the 
overhanging lip of the plate or lid on verticals.  If it still 
runs into plate struts, rather than using a head with a larger 
angle, I change to one with a longer extension for the tip.  I 
don't see how the 5 degree angle would be practical at all in 
everyday tuning of all types of pianos, unless you had one with 
a very long extension.
    Seems to me that an inordinate amount of force in a 
direction not usually used in normal tuning would be necessary 
to actually bend the pin.
    --David Nereson, RPT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Wilson" <wilsonpiano at hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 11:15 PM
Subject: [pianotech] FW: Tuning hammer heads


From: wilsonpiano at hotmail.com
To: piantech at ptg.org
Subject: Tuning hammer heads
Date: Thu, 9 Sep 2010 15:13:54 +1000

Hi All
I have been thinking about tuning hammer heads since Tom 
Driscoll's post last week. btw nice work Tom!
I looked at the link and found the default head was a 15 degree. 
There was a testomonial stating the user now prefers the 15 
degree over the older way of using the 5 degree.
Please enlighten me. Why do these new hammers have a default 
head of 15 degrees? eg Faulk, Fujan and now Driscoll. Most of 
these first two come with a 15 and yes I know you can order the 
5.
I know that it is best to be as close to the tuning pins as 
possible and the hammer must move in a circle, etc and no 
bending of the pins etc ! but I am intrigued why . Do you have 
higher plates ? Convienient ? Just the way you do it?
I did try a 15 on a schaff tuning hammer. It seemed so strange, 
and I felt like I was going to bend the pin
I too, have been using 5 and 10 degree heads over the years. My 
first tool kit was purchased through Kawai and the tuning hammer 
was a 5 degree Itoshin. I remember seeing these tuning hammers 
in the Hamamatsu factory. Since wearing that tool out, I bought 
a Watanabe and that is 10 degrees. That tool took a while to get 
used to, as 10 degrees to me seems large. Reminds of running up 
a 10 degree hill... ouch
Thoughts please ?
btw haven't posted anything for a while... when you have nothing 
to say, say nothing..
Regards
Brian

Brian Wilson
Brisbane, Australia