<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><SPAN class=810433414-19032005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>Thanks for sharing, Terry - this is really good to hear. I'm only in my early = 30s and due to a combination of tuning and a really really stupid fall a couple = of years ago, I have pretty consistent problems with my tuning wrist. Not to = mention the weekly chiro visits for just general back and shoulder = crap. Anymore I absolutely have to wear a wrist brace when tuning, and I have been = pondering the investment of an impact lever. I also like your idea of using pitch = raises to get used to left-handed work. I don't really have the time to try and = fine-tune with my left just yet. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=810433414-19032005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>Good news!</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=810433414-19032005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff = size=2>-holly</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT = face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> = pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]<B>On Behalf Of = </B>Terry<BR><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, March 19, 2005 5:54 AM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Impact Tuning = Lever<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>A while ago I posted questions = regarding purchase of an impact tuning lever. I've been using it for a few = months now and just thought I would report in.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>For a couple years now I have been = rastling with some kind of torn/strained muscle/tendon in my shoulder (thanks = to a Boston studio & a 1098 on the same day) and tendonitis in the = elbow - both in my tuning arm. It had gotten to the point where I = had walked away from several service appointments because I knew tuning = that piano would put me out of work for some weeks.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I've been using the impact lever = for pitch raises on all vertical pianos unless they have very low-torque tuning = pins. I use my trusty Renner/Bowman lever for tuning verticals and = everything on grands. I pitch-raised Kimball and Baldwin consoles = yesterday - both were raised more than 100 cents - they both got two pitch-raise = passes and then a tuning pass. Both these pianos had excessively tight tuning = pins - easily around 200+ in-lbs. I used the impact lever for these four = pitch-raise passes and I have no arm pain today at all. The impact lever seems to = have saved me!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I impact the bass with my left = hand and the rest of the scale with my right - I'm trying to train myself to = become ambidextrous with the impact lever - again, in case I wreck an arm at = some point I could keep tuning. I can see that it will take quite a bit of = practice to become good at fine tuning with the impact lever, but I think using = it for all vertical pitch raises will eventually get me to the point where I = can start attempting using the impact lever for fine tuning - I would like = to get to the point where I can use it for all vertical tuning.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Bottom line: the impact lever has = saved my arm, avoided interruptions in income, and will likely extend my = tuning career (unless soundboard manufacturing can save me from the spinet devils!). = I am very happy I have started using this great tool!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>