[pianotech] Carbon Fiber Lever (was Hammer Technique: was Q & A Roundtable)

[Dale Probst]

Steve Fujan has set up a device to measure tuning lever stiffness and
brought it to conventions where he kindly tested our levers. My old APSCO
hammer did fairly well but the hammer he makes was better. Disclaimer: I
don't represent Fujan in any way but admire the engineering he has done with
this venerable tool of our trade. 
DP
Dale Probst RPT
Registered Piano Technician
Ward & Probst, Inc.
www.wardprobst.com
dale at wardprobst.com
 


Message: 1
Date: Sat, 5 Feb 2011 22:17:49 -0500
From: Kurt Baxter <fortefile at gmail.com>
To: "pianotech at ptg.org" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Carbon Fiber Lever (was Hammer Technique: was
Q & A Roundtable)
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<AANLkTin2MQZr5mJ3-JtUf8N-pinebw5k70a7TjRmouDT at mail.gmail.com>
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I was under the impression that the stiffness of the Fujan lever has as much
to do with the "triangle" head design as the CF tube. I seem to remember
reading that much of the flex in a traditional lever comes from the narrow
threaded joint. (And of course the improved joint would be less effective
without the tube to match)
I own a Fujan, and am very happy with it. I have a friend who owns a Faulk
and a Fujan. She says the Faulk is stiffer than a traditional lever, and the
Fujan is stiffer than both.
I have not tried the Driscoll lever, but my concern with the design is that
some or much of the stiffness gained by the CF tube (assuming it has similar
qualities to the Fujan tube) would be negated by the weak link of the
tapered threaded head.
I would love to see some even vaguely scientific side-by-side tests done,
although I'm not sure what that test would look like, as I'm sure the
perception of stiffness and feedback is at least somewhat subjective.
-kurt