This re-introduction looks interesting.  I just may try them out.  Being in a university, it's nice to have so much to choose from for trying out different hammers, etc. compared to my 15 years in the private sector.  I just didn't do that much.  I've learned a lot in my 2.5 years at UNL, but still want to try different things to find my "favorite".  Another reason they call them "practice rooms"  ;>) Paul <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=40%>"Tom Servinsky" <tompiano@bellsouth.net> Sent by: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org 10/14/2008 06:17 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> Paul As someone who has installed about as many sets of Wurzen hammers in the USA as anybody, I too have found that the Wurzen hammers need juicing for the larger instruments. I've settled in on a 10:1 lacquer solution which adds just some extra support but not strong enough to affect needling or  diminish the elasticity issues. Anyone who would have checked to the piano afterwards would be hard-pressed to know that any additives were added. That being said, once juiced, the hammers perform beautifully and develop into a very musical quality. I've been quite pleased with the results. As with any hammer, half the battle is learning what you have to work with. Some require very little filing while others require a heavy filing. Some a lot of needling, some very little. Another little tid bit that I recently learned from Dale Erwin is that the fibers of the wool are actually hollow, something that was discovered in the R&R labs. Adding solutions to the hammer actually fills the fibers up and causes the fibers to react differently. You learn something new everyday! I too am thrilled to have the Weickert felt back into production. It's about time that rebuilders have some real arsenal to deal with. Tom Servinsky ----- Original Message ----- From: <a href=mailto:pwilliams4@unlnotes.unl.edu>Paul T Williams</a> To: <a href=mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech List</a> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 5:12 PM Subject: Re: The all new Weickert felt hammer by Ronsen I'm all ears for that as well!!  I love the naturals from Wally!!  I recently put Ronsen-Wurzen on our Baldwin D, but I had to really juice them a lot to get anything out of them, and the techs that responded said otherwise.  what's up with that???  They were more like raw Ronsens, which I would expected.  They sound great now, but it was a hassle!!!  I also Wapinized the bridges and you wouldn't believe the difference.. Glad I did it!! Paul' <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=47%>Andrew Anderson <anrebe@sbcglobal.net> Sent by: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org 10/14/2008 12:28 PM <table border=4> <tr valign=top> <td bgcolor=white> <div align=center>Please respond to Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org></div></table> <td width=52%> <table width=100%> <tr valign=top> <td width=14%> <div align=right>To</div> <td width=85%>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> How do these compare to Abel Naturals?  Or the Wurzen AAA felt hammers from Ronson? Andrew Anderson On Oct 14, 2008, at 9:09 AM, AlliedPianoCraft wrote: Dale!!!!   Now you've gotten me all excited!   I'll have to go and find a piano that needs new hammers.   Al Guecia     From: <a href=mailto:erwinspiano@aol.com>erwinspiano@aol.com</a> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 9:40 AM To: <a href=mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</a> Subject: The all new Weickert felt hammer by Ronsen   I wanted to announce this exciting bit of news here first. Sincerely Dale Erwin  Ronsen Piano Hammer Company announces  the New Weickert felt limited edition piano hammer.        Exclusively produced in America by the Ronsen Hammer Co. The Wurzen felt company of Germany has just reintroduced the legendary Weickert felt. This felt was prized by hammer piano makers for its resilience & tonal versatility.   Weickert felt was in use by many famous makers for nearly 90 years before WW-II forced the plant to be shut down. All old N.Y. Steinways as well as many other American and European companies used this felt. When the Berlin Wall came down, the Jack Brand family of Canada purchased the facility and in 1992 began felt production with all the original equipment and felt making formulas still intact! Wurzen makes a host of piano felts for the industry and its products are marketed and used worldwide.  Now the Famous Weickert felt piano hammer has been recreated. It is a dense,springy felt that provides a rich palette of tonal coloration to the musician and technician.  Ronsen-made Weickert felt hammers elicit enormous sustain and tonal clarity from the very first moment - and these attributes are present without pre-needling. A simple probing of these hammers with a single #6 needle reveals a wonderful dense feel, and the needles go all the way in with a beautiful feel of velvety compliance. The Weikert-style felt by Wurzen utilizes a special proprietary blend of wools as did the original formulas. The reduction of protocols known to damage felt fibers in production, such as over-bleaching, pressing, ironing and sanding have all been reduced or in large part eliminated, leaving an absolutely beautiful organic hammer. The felt even smells alive! The Weickert felt's density, elasticity and strength are left intact and are the vital and necessary ally of discriminating voicing technicians. Weickert felt, combined with the time-tested traditional hammer-making protocols of Ronsen's Ray Negron, has now produced one of the finest piano hammers ever available. Available October 23 thd. Order now.  Priced at $330.00 for 16 lb. felt  Priced at $315 for the 14 lb. felt   Introductory price of $299.00  Boring extra  For purchases, services, molding and other felt options call Dale Erwin, Ronsen's new West Coast supplier, at Erwin Piano Restoration at 209-577-8397 Pacific West coast time. For voicing and technical support, call either Dale or Ray Negron at Ronsen at 1-800-864-0233 East Coast time. <hr>McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - <a href="http://toolbar.aol.com/elections/download.html?ncid=emlweusdown00000002">Download Now!</a>