<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 9:50 AM, Barbara Richmond <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:piano57@comcast.net">piano57@comcast.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Howdy,</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">I've been asked to improve the heavy, sluggish,
mushy touch on a Baldwin Hamilton upright (Church piano--the finish matches the
pews). On a previous visit, I tried shrinking a few centers, but the
results weren't good. This time I repinned a couple hammer butts which
made a very positive change in the touch. Because I was pressed for time,
I was reluctant to pull the action to check out the wippens and dampers. I
guess I could just include repinning them all in the estimate and if I don't
have to do them, make the adjustment. But...I was wondering if anybody out
there has done many of these jobs and if so, did you have to do the dampers
flanges? (bleh) Surprisingly, the dampers are in pretty good
regulation--spoons and the damper lift rod, so I'd rather not fool with
them.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">I think I'll get some of those thinner Crescendo
punchings for the front rail, since the punchings there now are the squishiest
I've ever encountered. </font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial" size="2">If there's anything else (beside lighting a match)
you can think of, or you have found, that can make these pianos lovable,
please let me know. :-)</font></div>
<div> </div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Barbara,</div><div><br></div><div>I recently did this very job on a 1997 Hamilton (or 243?). This one had issues with sluggishness for several years. I finally gave them the only solution that would ultimately work: complete action disassembly, checking and correcting friction on each hammer, whippen, and jack center; sanding whippen felts; applying teflon powder to hammer butts, etc.; and regulation. I would have preferred a less costly solution for them, but it was the only way I could actually solve the problem.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Mine responded well to water/alcohol sizing. I disassembled every action part except for damper flanges, which were fine. Checked friction, and applied either 10%, 25%, 35%, or 50% solution depending on the friction there. Some repinning was needed as well, mainly because the sizing solution worked too well on a few. (Or, that I was too aggressive due to my lack of experience in choosing which % solution to use.)<br>
</div><div><br></div><div>During regulation, it became apparent that the balance rail bushings needed replacement. Cupped bushings were causing significant repetition problems. I used VS Profelt and cauls on the front rail bushings to renew the felt there, which worked very well.</div>
<div><br></div><div>After regulation, it still has some problems with key weighting. But it plays much better than before -- just a heavier touch than I like. I'm waiting to make sure the work is satisfactory - I told the church to play it for 2-3 weeks to make SURE everything was to their satisfaction. I should know by next week if everything is good.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I suppose I can always trim the balance rail felts (toward the player) to help slightly with the heavy touch.</div><div><br></div><div>In all, I worked several more hours that I'd originally estimated. However, I still feel like a learner in this realm, so it was great experience. And I was paid well for "learning." Gotta love that!</div>
<div><br></div><div>Hope this helps.</div><div><br></div></div>-- <br>JF<br>
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