<WBR>Al<br> <br> The hammers shaping is more of a cleaning off the groves and dirt, than a shaping as most technicians know it. If I see that the hammers are to the point that regulation will be necessary, I try to sell them that procedure. Unfortunately, most costumers are more concerned with looks than than tone or regulation. Don't misunderstand, I try to sell them that, too, but for my cleaning price, a little goes a long way. <br> <br> <div style="CLEAR: both">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> www.pianotuning.com</div> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: AlliedPianoCraft <AlliedPianoCraft@hotmail.com><br> To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 9:11 am<br> Subject: Re: Grand Cleaning<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97> <div><FONT face=Arial>Win,</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial>Just a question from someone who has never shaped hammers without doing a regulating.  </FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial>What about let off and drop once you've changed the hammer shape and height and then everything else that goes along once you've changed that?</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial>I do a cleaning and just a cleaning. If you want your hammers shaped, them you also need a regulating. Call me crazy, but it's just my way of doing things.</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial>Al Guecia</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </div> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=wimblees@aol.com href="mailto:wimblees@aol.com">Willem Blees</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, March 30, 2008 12:42 PM</div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Grand Cleaning</div> <div><br> </div> <WBR>I've just made up post cards I can hand to my customers when I see a need for cleaning service. It not only explains what I'm going to do, but also includes a short disclaimer. I could do the work in the customer's house, but I want to shape hammers and tighten screws on my bench in my shop, not on the piano, the floor, or the piano bench.  <br> <br> <FONT size=5> <div>Upright cleaning service: $175.00</div> </FONT> <DIR> <DIR> <div>1. Remove action</div> <div>2. Shape hammers</div> <div>3. Tighten screws</div> <div>4. Blow dirt out of action</div> <div>5. Clean keys</div> <div>6. Vacuum under keys and bottom of the piano</div> <div>7. Clean and polish pedals. <br> </div> </DIR></DIR><FONT size=5> <div><FONT size=3></FONT></div> <div><FONT size=3>Cleaning service does not include case cleaning, touch up, or polishing, action regulation or any repairs to the piano, action, case, strings, or any other piano components.</FONT> </div> <div><br> <br> Grand piano cleaning service: $275.00</div> </FONT><FONT size=3> <DIR> <DIR></FONT> <div>1. Remove action</div> <div>2. Shape hammers</div> <div>3. Tighten screws</div> <div>4. Blow dirt out of action</div> <div>5. Vacuum keyframe</div> <div>6. Clean keys</div> <div>7. Vacuum action cavity</div> <div>8. Clean under strings</div> <div>9. Clean plate</div> <div>10. Clean pin area</div> <div>11. Clean and polish pedals and pedal rods.</div> <B><FONT size=1></DIR></DIR></B></FONT><FONT size=3> <div>Cleaning service does not include case cleaning, touch up, or polishing, action regulation or any repairs to the piano, action, case, strings, or any other piano components. </div> </FONT><br> <br> <br> <div style="CLEAR: both">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> <A href="http://www.pianotuning.com/" target=_blank>www.pianotuning.com</A></div> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Isaac Sadigursky <<A href="mailto:irs.pianos@earthlink.net">irs.pianos@earthlink.net</A>><br> To: 'Pianotech List' <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><br> Sent: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 8:03 pm<br> Subject: RE: Grand Cleaning<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486> <STYLE>#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"}#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"}#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"}#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline}#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline}#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 A:visited { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline}#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline}#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 SPAN.EmailStyle17 { COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-style-type: personal-reply}#AOLMsgPart_2_fbdc1a15-c492-4137-addd-2bff7aca7c97 #AOLMsgPart_2_1e68fbf6-a986-43a6-b6ac-b33b22e15486 DIV.Section1 { page: Section1}</STYLE> <div class=Section1> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Hi,Mathtew!</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I do clean pianos daily and what works for me is:</SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">ELECTROLUX vacuum cleaner with TWO hoses.First,vacuum all possible dust and junk,then using blower end in one hand and suction end in another hand proceed and this powerful vacuum will do the trick..Few more precausons   to keep dust from flying all over customers living room;put damp cloth on sndbrd around the tail of a grand piano,it works as an arrestor for dust…All procedure takes less then 20 minutes..Vacuum  is equipped with automatic cord rewinder,2 hoses,rags,towels are packed in roll-away wheeled luggage case…good luck…Isaac</SPAN></FONT></div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> <A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A> [<A href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</A>] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Willem Blees<br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, March 28, 2008 11:36 PM<br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A><br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: Grand Cleaning</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Matthew</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">You've gotten some good advice, but what I have not seen is what I used to do in St. Louis, and something I am going to start doing for my customer here in Hawaii. For grands, I take the action home and clean the keys, vacuum under the keys, tighten the screws and shape the hammers. When I return to the customer, I vacuum out the action cavity, clean the soundboard with a damp rag, using a soundboard steel, clean the plate and vacuum the pin area using a hard bristle paint brush. The most important part of this is cleaning the soundboard and the pin area because that is what the customer sees. One other thing I will do is clean the pedals. The salt air here on the island corrodes most pedals. But all you will have to do is polish them. It adds a nice touch. It will take about 2 hours to do all of this, plus a second trip to the customer's house, so price it accordingly. </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> <A href="http://www.pianotuning.com/" target=_blank>www.pianotuning.com</A></SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Matthew Todd <<A href="mailto:toddpianoworks@yahoo.com">toddpianoworks@yahoo.com</A>><br> To: <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A><br> Sent: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 7:06 am<br> Subject: Grand Cleaning</SPAN></FONT></div> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_bd55f114-e84c-4b10-b9f4-6e8b375b8c3d> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">A client wants me to come over and clean her Kawai grand.  This will be my first, and I was curious as to what kind of service(s) I can offer her.  According to the "G" piano works labor guide, a complete grand cleaning can take as long as 3.5 hrs.  When I talked with my client, she had only mentioned about cleaning the soundboard, but then again, she may not realize all the dust that can accumulate in her keybed, etc.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">What kind of cleaning services do you all offer?  Do you offer the most basic service and go up to the most complete cleaning?  When I go through a car wash, I can pay three bucks, and all they'll do is hose my car down.  Or I can pay more for scrubbing, and even more to get the wheels done.  I just need advice on how to sort this out.  3.5 hrs sounds like a great service, but I don't know how many clients are willing to pay that.</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Thanks in advance!<br> Matthew</SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=1> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Never miss a thing. <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=51438/*http:/www.yahoo.com/r/hs" target=_blank>Make Yahoo your homepage.</A> </SPAN></FONT></div> </div> <div id=u8CA5F7E3CB2E26D-1364-27EA> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 7.5pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-TOP: 7.5pt"><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Planning your summer road trip? 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