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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=921093312-05102007><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I am going to try this. Can any of the chemists comment on
substituting a different kind of alcohol? Everclear could be easier to get, or
Isopropyl. </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Michael
Kurta<BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, October 02, 2007 5:58 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech
List<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Hammer softening<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> Hi Gary:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> This is a direct quote from the
Baldwin service manual:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> "For a Softer Tone: A
mixture of 25% water and 75% methanol can be applied to the hammers to produce a
mellower tone in Baldwin 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."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> I've used this solution for
years and found it to work well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> Mike Kurta, Syracuse
chapter </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> Mike Kurta, Syracuse
chapter</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>