<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> List:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I’m just thinking out loud but has anyone toyed with the idea of pressure-treating wooden shanks in a diluted solution of wood glue and water?  The shanks and solution would have to be in a compressed air-loaded vessel (NOT a pressure cooker!) since high heat would probably distort the shanks.  My thinking is that the diluted wood glue, once dried, would give additional strength and rigidity to the shanks.  The specifics of glue dilution, amount of pressure and time of pressurization would have to be worked out, but it seems plausible to me.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> What say?  Anyone…?<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tom Rhea<o:p></o:p> Rhea Piano Service<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Norfolk</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">VA</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Dale Erwin Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 10:24 AM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">pianotech@ptg.org</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Shank questions<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Perhaps using a water thin epoxy like rot doctor to quickly coat the average set of wooden shanks would seem to me to add some stiffness as well and secondarily....   humidity resistance. Just muttering out loud here.<o:p></o:p> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> Dale S. Erwin www.Erwinspiano.com 209-577-8397 "We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> <div> -----Original Message----- From: Mark Dierauf <pianotech@nhpianos.com> To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">pianotech@ptg.org</st1:PersonName> Sent: Thu, May 26, 2011 5:39 am Subject: Re: [pianotech] Shank questions<o:p></o:p> <div id="AOLMsgPart_0_9852898e-674f-42e9-9c00-350b9fd0cebb"> Have you seen the Kawai high-speed videos of hammer/string contact? There's a lot going on with the hammerhead oscillating all over the place. If that oscillation is expanded into another axis I could easily imagine it having a tonal effect, which would seem unlikely to be positive. When my own piano gets  a new set of hammers I may try one or two of the carbon shanks in each section to see just how much tonal difference is actually perceptible, and whether I like or dislike that difference. I like the theoretical advantages that these shanks offer - uniformity of stiffness, impervious-ness  to humidity, and customizable knuckle position - but honestly what matters most is whether or not they make the piano sound better. So far that is not at all obvious to me from the few examples I've heard. Keeping my fingers crossed, though! - Mark On 2:59 PM, Encore Pianos wrote: <o:p></o:p> <div> <div> My experience with the WNG shanks is as Mark describes, and do seem to twist more than wooden shanks.  How important is this  in relation to a hammer striking a string?  Not sure that it  is meaningful.  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Will Truitt<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> From: <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>] On Behalf Of Ed Foote Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 6:35 PM To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Shank questions<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div id="AOLMsgPart_0_db2e26df-c5ef-4012-8608-60a51aac68d4"><pre style='background:white'><tt>At 15:44 -0400 25/05/2011, Mark Dierauf wrote:</tt><o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white;background-attachment:scroll;background-position-x: 0%;background-position-y:0%'><tt> </tt><o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white;background-attachment:scroll;background-position-x: 0%;background-position-y:0%'><tt>>Interestingly, although the WNG shanks are stiffer than your average </tt><o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white;background-attachment:scroll;background-position-x: 0%;background-position-y:0%'><tt>>wooden shank, they seem to be noticeably more prone to twisting.</tt><o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white;background-attachment:scroll;background-position-x: 0%;background-position-y:0%'><tt> </tt><o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white;background-attachment:scroll;background-position-x: 0%;background-position-y:0%'><tt> </tt>Hmm,  this is the first time I have heard of this, and the several WNG shanks I have seen with hammers on them <o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white;background-attachment:scroll;background-position-x: 0%;background-position-y:0%'> didn't' seem to twist nearly as much  as wooden ones did.  What anecdotes do others have? <o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white;background-attachment:scroll;background-position-x: 0%;background-position-y:0%'>Regards, <o:p></o:p></pre><pre style='background:white;background-attachment:scroll;background-position-x: 0%;background-position-y:0%'>Ed Foote rpt<o:p></o:p></pre></div> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> </div> </div>  </body> </html>