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I have never understood the use of thick (up to 1/8") balance rail
puncings in North American pianos. The thicker the punching, I believe,
the more problems you have with unstable regulation - key level, key
dip, blow distance (on grands) etc. Not to mention the loss of power
as the punching compresses under the force of a note being played ff or
fff.<br>
<br>
European pianos almost always have thin balance rail punchings. The
preferred punchings are made out of 1.1 mm (.044") bushing cloth. See
my web site: <br>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.pianofortesupply.com/felt2.html">http://www.pianofortesupply.com/felt2.html</a> <br>
<br>
In cases where these are not thick enough, thick paper punchings are
used to bring the key up to the proper height.<br>
A good rule to follow when levelling keys is to use no more than four
paper punchings, with no more than two of the same thickness.<br>
<br>
Jurgen Goering<br>
Piano Forte Supply<br>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid200409022250.i82MoZD03622@bridget.rudoff.com"><br>
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<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">Subject:
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Balance rail felt</td>
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<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">From: </div>
V T <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:pianovt@yahoo.com"><pianovt@yahoo.com></a></td>
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<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">Date: </div>
Thu, 2 Sep 2004 15:49:39 -0700 (PDT)</td>
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<div class="headerdisplayname" style="display: inline;">To: </div>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a></td>
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<pre wrap="">Hello List,
If anyone has done a survey of balance rail felt
punchings, could you please let me know who is selling
the thinnest, hardest ones (as little compression as
possible). Thanks!
Vladan
</pre>
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