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<div>Thanks for all the great responses. The main problem is with the bicord and monocord dampers. They should be replaced, I agree, but the piano is not the greatest insturument ever built. If I can't get a satisfactory result early on in my attempts to soften the felt, I'll suggest it to the owner. </div>
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<div style="CLEAR: both">Dave Stahl<br>
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Dave Stahl Piano Service<br>
650-224-3560<br>
dstahlpiano@sbcglobal.net<br>
http://dstahlpiano.net/<br>
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-----Original Message-----<br>
From: tunerdude@comcast.net<br>
To: pianotech@ptg.org<br>
Sent: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 8:17 AM<br>
Subject: Re: softening crusty dampers<br>
<br>
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<div class=AOLPlainTextBody id=AOLMsgPart_0_cef90c5b-5d41-4bf5-8f64-924d82428f7a>Conrad, <br>
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Quite so. Any idea what is causing the crust?? I had long attributed it to accumulation of stuff out of the air, since it often seemed to be just a 'crust', at the surface. But, now, with you prediciton of its return, I wonder about the true source. And, more to be encountered in inexpensive little verticals, too, rather than nicer instruments. An inherent deficiency in the felt itself perhaps??? <br>
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Robin <br>
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----- Original Message ----- From: "Conrad Hoffsommer" <<A href="mailto:hoffsoco%40luther.edu">hoffsoco@luther.edu</A>> <br>
To: "Pianotech List" <<A href="mailto:pianotech%40ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>> <br>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 11:06 AM <br>
Subject: Re: softening crusty dampers <br>
<br>
> At 10:31 AM 9/20/2006 -0400, you wrote: <br>
>>Barbara, <br>
>> <br>
>>To which surface do you apply the needle(s)??? I've seen it done going in >>from the end the damper and very gently separating the fibers. I'm guess >>that in this case, doing both sanding and needling will be necessary, if >>not chemical treatment. <br>
>> <br>
>>Robin <br>
>>----- Original Message ----- <br>
>>I suppose the degree of crusty would make a difference, but lately I had >>success on the bass dampers (mono- & bichords) of a grand using my sanding >>file and voicing needles. <br>
>> <br>
>>Barbara Richmond, RPT <br>
>>near Peoria, IL <br>
>>----- Original Message ----- <br>
>> <br>
>>The most annoying problem, at least to the customer, is the buzzing sound >>created when the dampers seat on the strings. The crust that has >>accumulated over time by the salt sea air has hardened the dampers >>considerably. <br>
>> <br>
>>Dave Stahl <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> I seem to be outnumbered by those recommending this or that softening > technique, and all the alternate suggestions have their merit (having > tried most, over the years) but, at least in this institutional setting, > the only permanent (errrr... longest lasting) solution is replacement. <br>
> <br>
> Just as beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone, and > similar to trying to rinse out $&$ vertigris, the crust _will_ reassert > itself. <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> <br>
> Conrad Hoffsommer - Keyboard Technician <br>
> Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045 <br>
> 1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076 <br>
> <br>
> - Right now, I'm hoping to live until my age matches my golf score, <br>
> - Until then, I'll have to be content to have my IQ match my handicap. <br>
> <br>
> <br>
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