<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> Sounds good.  And while you’re replacing the broken shank, just glue on a softer hammer.    <div> David Love davidlovepianos@comcast.net www.davidlovepianos.com </div> -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Dean May Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 9:39 AM To: 'Pianotech List' Subject: RE: Hard Hammers   Here is an idea for a needling tool. Someone who has too much time on their hands and likes to modify tools could build one for the rest of us.   What if you took a small air nailer, say for brad nails, and modified the end of the piston that pushes the nail head so that it would accept and capture a single needle? With a single pull of the trigger it should easily fire the needle as deep as you want it to go and the spring loaded piston would pull it right back out. The business end of the nailer could be set up with an adjustable foot that could control the depth of penetration.   The advantages would be the ability to get lots of deep needle penetration on hard hammers without wearing yourself out. It would also probably incur minimal stress on the hammer molding and glue joint compared to traditional needling.   A hand operated staple gun might also work which would give more portability.   <div> Dean <u1:PERSONNAME u2:st="on">Dean May</u1:PERSONNAME>             cell 812.239.3359 PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <u1:PLACE u2:st="on"><u1:CITY u2:st="on"><u3:place u4:st="on"><u3:City u4:st="on">Terre Haute</u3:place></u1:CITY> <u1:STATE u2:st="on">IN</u1:STATE>  <u1:POSTALCODE u2:st="on"> 47802</u1:POSTALCODE></u1:PLACE> </div>   <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of erwinspiano@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:03 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Hard Hammers </div>     Hi John   Petrified felt,  yes indeed a, Paul Bailey coined phrase.    I've tried the Dremel many times & find it rather useless, but hey they can't be worse. I simply marvel at the lack of interest many piano makers have in tone as is evidenced by what they call piano hammers. Those who purchased the inexpensive pso simply need the paradigm shift that they got a bargain that they now need to invest in to make it a legitimate instrument. Like getting a great car cheap that needs a tune up & further performance enhancement. Ok....adequate car   All our heroic voicing efforts in these cases as I see it.... are not our problem.  I of course, suggest a hammer transplant as usual.   A for effort John   Dale <div id="AOLMsgPart_2_feba23d5-9bde-438b-bc78-702d2d49d87a"> <div> >...then perhaps its your general needling approach that needs adjusting. </div> <div>   </div> <div> Sometimes needles won't work at all.  Last week I was servicing a Wurlitzer </div> <div> grand with petrified hammers. A needle would not penetrate and squeezing </div> <div> with parallel pliers felt more like a piece of wood than felt. </div> <div>   </div> <div> I used a damp cloth and an iron on the shoulders and a little on the crown. </div> <div> This relaxed the hammer enough to be able to squeeze the shoulders with </div> <div> parallel pliers.  It was still plenty loud but the piercing edge was now gone. </div> <div>   </div> <div> I'm considering voicing with a fine drill bit and a Dremel tool on slow speed </div> <div> so as not to scorch the fibers. Maybe this will create small gaps for the fibers </div> <div> to expand into and ease the density. It certainly couldn't hurt these HSO's. </div> <pre style='margin-left:.5in'>-- </pre> <div> Regards, Jon Page </div> <div>   </div> <div> HSO: Hammer Shaped Object </div> </div>  <div id=u8CA736A421110CA-5A4-912> <div style='margin-top:7.5pt'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> </div> Get the <a href="http://www.mapquest.com/toolbar?NCID=mpqmap00030000000003" target="_blank" title="http://www.mapquest.com/toolbar?NCID=mpqmap00030000000003">MapQuest Toolbar</a>, Maps, Traffic, Directions & More! </div> </div> </body> </html>