<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:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" 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 12 (filtered medium)"> <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I used to be a jerk tuner but now I’m not unless the pins are super tight.  I have a Fujan hammer with the longest tube (I also have the short tube but never use it).  The greater length gives better leverage and the super stiffness allows me to feel every tiniest movement of the pin.  Also with the long lever if there’s any reason to feel things closer to the head, I can just move my hand closer on the lever.  With a short lever I can’t move out for more leverage.  Of course after nearly 35 years of this work my hands also tell me to get better leverage.  When I used the Schaff extension lever pulled out there was so much flex that it was difficult to detect pin movement from shank flex.   <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>dave<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#1F497D'>____________________</span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>David M. Porritt, RPT<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:dporritt@smu.edu">dporritt@smu.edu</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p> <div> <div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'> <p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Bruce Dornfeld<br> <b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 22, 2008 10:55 PM<br> <b>To:</b> pianotech<br> <b>Subject:</b> Tuning lever length<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </div> <p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'>The discussion of the new CF carbon fiber levers brings to mind a subject that I cannot remember seeing on pianotech.  How long of a tuning lever works best for your basic tuning technique?   A couple of years ago I gave a technical session for our chapter called "If I had The Hammer".  It was a survey of the numerous tuning levers that can be purchased today as well as modifications that can be made.  One observation I made is one that you, with your input to the list, can help us all understand better.  I believe that tuners who use a smooth hammer technique prefer a longer lever and that tuners who use a jerk or impact technique benefit from a shorter lever.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'>I have been using a jerk or impact technique for at least twenty five years now.  I have gone through many tuning levers.  I started with the long extension lever at 11 1/2 inches, but quickly changed to the shorter 10 inch one.  The first Fujan lever I tried, in his early days, felt to me like walking on stilts.  It might have been 15 inches long or longer, but I'm not sure about that.  I currently use a Charles Falk lever that is 8 3/4 inches long and it has worked great for me for several years or more.  But I think that's because I'm a jerk.  I had a Jahn Pear handle hammer for a while.  It was a nice light weight, but at 11 inches overall, it was just too long for me.  I gave it to Robert Guenther, a CTE for our chapter, to try and he bought it from me.  It has been his main lever for at least a couple of years now.  Robert is a smoothie.  That is, he uses a smooth or steady pull technique t! o tune.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'>Most of you know if you are jerks or smoothies.  What length tuning lever works best for your technique?  <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'>Bruce Dornfeld, RPT  Jerk Tuner<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'><a href="mailto:bdornfeld@earthlink.net">bdornfeld@earthlink.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'>North Shore Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> <div> <p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"MS Sans Serif","serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p> </div> </div> </body> </html>