<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=windows-1250">
<TITLE>Message</TITLE>
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2963" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=338562803-15092006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Wally Brooks and daughter had some pictures of slides of
some of these cheap hammers formed under very high heat where the fibres had
actually fused together. I've used a Dremmel sparingly, resorting
later to "hand needling". I am really cautious in using alcohol/water,
though have used it with good success in limited places. I carry a
Vodka bottle. Actually first time I used the mixture, I used 100 proof
Vodka. Clean, and I have had fun telling people I use the stuff, and if it
doesn't work, I just drink it till the piano sounds good............ A few
laughs occasionally....</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=338562803-15092006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>les bartlett</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Geoff
Sykes<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 14, 2006 8:10 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
Pianotech@Ptg. Org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Alcohol and hard
hammers<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=671315500-15092006>Tomorrow I have to
go up against a new, out of the box, upright piano with ROCK hard hammers.
I have been asked to voice the hammers down significantly in order to
reduce the unpleasant brittle harsh cold sound. Last time I had to do this
I just aggressively needled away for a long time. Very aggressively with lots of
broken needles. Even after I was "finished" I was still unable to get a needle
in more than about 1mm. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=671315500-15092006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=671315500-15092006>Not too long ago, on
the list, I read that treating hard hammers with a little alcohol would help
un-compact the felt. However, these are new hammers and are probably hard
because of a hardening treatment. Today's question is: Would a small alcohol
treatment help? If not, what would you suggest?</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
class=671315500-15092006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=671315500-15092006>-- Geoff
Sykes</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=671315500-15092006>-- Assoc. Los
Angeles</SPAN></FONT></DIV><BR>
<P><FONT size=2>--<BR>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG
Free Edition.<BR>Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/447 - Release Date:
09/13/2006<BR></FONT></P></BODY></HTML>
<BR>
<P><FONT SIZE=2>--<BR>
No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR>
Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>
Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.3/447 - Release Date: 09/13/2006<BR>
</FONT> </P>