Serge, I think all he's trying to say is that these hammers from Ray are perhaps the best we can get.. and I say perhaps.. Please tell if there is better! Can you make better?Certainly the hammers from China aren't nearly as good or consistant. Do they work easily with you like Ray? Can they adjust to your needs? I've never seen hammers from China as good.   Excuse me, but I'm a little grumpy right now trying to schedule junk that I'm caught in the middle of....  Sorry for the rant.. Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>"Serge Harel" <serge.harel@videotron.ca> Sent by: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org 10/15/2008 01:53 PM <table border> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=59%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>To</div> <td>"Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>cc</div> <td> <tr valign=top> <td> <div align=right>Subject</div> <td>Re: The all new Weickert felt hammer by Ronsen</table> <table> <tr valign=top> <td> <td></table> </table> Dear Dale   Sorry Dale but Ray is just the only one in USA not on the PLANET. The majority of the hammer head from China are hand screw press. And there is a French maker in Paris: Desfougere that use hand presses And I'm the only one to use the real Alfred Dolge presses   I do agree with all you said about the felt and how to press it and Ray do good jog for sure.     Serge Harel Canada     2008/10/15 <<a href=mailto:erwinspiano@aol.com>erwinspiano@aol.com</a>> David L. David A.  I thank you for this post. Ray is the only guy on the planet providing hammers commercially using the hand screw press. It is this fact, which allows for his artisan approach to hammer making., that and 40 years of experience and dedication. Truly impressive. He'd be blushing to hear me go on. He deserves it. As Will Truit said hammers and felt vary, it's the real world, get over it. Felt making is absolutely an art form and yet densities in a felt sheet can vary from sheet to sheet. The beauty of the Dolge screw press is that the operator can feel how much pressure each uniquely made strip of felt requires to achieve a narrow spectrum of density in the final product. This so important because hydraulic presses can literally squash the life out of felt especially when coupled with too much heat. Rays hands can feel this pressure. I've been there I've turned the screws. It's an acquired skill to be sure. Hey it keeps him in shape.    Dale Erwin Yes it is.  And I hope people appreciate Ray and what he is doing delivering a custom made hammer and responding to the needs and input from the techs.  Not to diminish the commitments of the other suppliers like Abel and Renner who deliver a very high quality product but it tends to be more of a one style fits all approach.  Ray is really trying to respond to the variety of tonal requirements that are part of our daily bread.  There isn't anyone else doing this with hammers right now and he should be applauded and supported!   David Love <a href=mailto:davidlovepianos@comcast.net target=_blank>davidlovepianos@comcast.net</a> <a href=http://www.davidlovepianos.com/ target=_blank>www.davidlovepianos.com</a> . I guess that's the beauty of dealing with a custom artisan like Ray Negron at Ronsen---he can do it for us.   DA   -- phone 514-750-4522 cel 514-569-4414 Piano Perfecto 5932 rue Viau Montreal Qc Canada H1T 2Y4 Piano Shop 17 Ronald Drive Montreal West, Qc Canada H4X 1M9