<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)">  <title>Re: Hammer softening</title> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> I agree with Avery.  It’s the furtive nature of the stuff.  I really don’t want to die or go blind – particularly when there are other things that will accomplish my goals with less danger.  I guess if it did something nothing else would do………….Nah!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> dp<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> ____________________<o:p></o:p> David M. Porritt, RPT<o:p></o:p> <a href="mailto:dporritt@smu.edu">dporritt@smu.edu</a><o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Alan Barnard Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 5:27 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Hammer softening<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> It is no more dangerous than household bleach, ammonia, CA glue, isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, airplane glue, contact cement and a lot of other stuff we use in the all-American household. A. Use in well ventilated area B. Avoid getting on skin, wash off if you do C. Don't drink it Alan Barnard <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Salem</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">MO</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid black 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> Original message From: "Avery Todd" <ptuner1@gmail.com></ptuner1@gmail.com>To: "<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>" <pianotech@ptg.org></pianotech@ptg.org>Received: 10/2/2007 4:38:48 PM Subject: Re: Hammer softening<o:p></o:p> Sorry, it's not worth the risk to me! See: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol</a><o:p></o:p> <div> Especially scroll on down to the bottom to "Health and Safety". <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Avery Todd  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> On 10/2/07, Michael Kurta <<a href="mailto:mkurta@roadrunner.com">mkurta@roadrunner.com</a>> wrote: <o:p></o:p> <div bgcolor="#ffffff"> <div>     Hi Gary:<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     This is a direct quote from the <st1:place w:st="on">Baldwin</st1:place> service manual:<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     "For a Softer Tone:  A mixture of 25% water and 75% methanol can be applied to the hammers to produce a mellower tone in <st1:place w:st="on">Baldwin</st1:place> hammers.  Care should be taken not to apply to stapled areas.  The solution can be applied to the shoulders for moderate changes or to the strike point for more severe changes.  It is recommended in most cases not to apply the solution to the top octave and lowest octave since these areas usually require more tone accentuation to be musically pleasing.  It takes about 20-30 minutes for the solution to work.  Fine voicing can then be performed with shallow needling to the hammers as needed to provide a consistent note to note tone." <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     I've used this solution for years and found it to work well.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Methanol BTW, is non-permanent anti-freeze and can sometimes be found at farm supply stores.  Its also found in windshield washer fluid, but I'm not sure what else is in there and the proportion of water to methanol. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     Mike Kurta, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syracuse</st1:place></st1:City> chapter  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     Mike Kurta, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Syracuse</st1:place></st1:City> chapter<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>