<!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 name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> I don’t prefer the fabric backed paper. It’s too pliable. I use paper back cut into strips about 3 inches wide and backed with masking tape to prevent the paper from ripping and stiffen it a bit. I file always toward the crown from each side and then polish off the top tuft with something finer so you can control it more easily. When you get to the end of a section just work carefully and use a fresh enough piece of paper that you don’t need to pull very hard to get things to cut. Don’t put pressure on the end hammer with your hand because the paper is unsupported by an adjacent hammer as it is with all the others. Put pressure (light) only on the hammers one or two in from the end of the section and the end hammer will get filed just fine.   The angled hammers, needless to say, must be filed individually.   <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net </div> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Stéphane Collin Sent: Saturday, March 18, 2006 9:15 AM To: Pianotech List Subject: Filing hammers   <div> Hello list. </div> <div>   </div> <div> I have a newbee question. </div> <div> I use to file hammers who need it this way : I put a wooden support between the backchecks and the stack, under the hammers tails, and use a whole sheet of sanding paper with kind of fabric flexible structure to gang-file about 15 hammers at the same time, using my right hand to tear the sheet and my left one to put some pressure on the hammers, always tearing in the same direction, starting with grit 60 down to very fine.  I get always nice horizontal hammer crowns but the two outer hammers in the gang, who always end up oblique, no matter how much care I develop to avoid this.  Of course, I then rectify those two individually, but they end up with smaller hammer heigth. </div> <div> Is there some solution to this problem that obviously flew over my head ? </div> <div>   </div> <div> Thanks in advance for anything but cynism. </div> <div>   </div> <div> Stéphane Collin. </div> </div> </body> </html>