<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><div>Yup. A very good argument for the development of synthetic wool hammers! (And other piano felts -- as real wool collects humidity, thus encouraging rust on contacted metal parts.) Thumpe</div></td></tr></table> <div id="_origMsg_"> <div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif:font-size:10pt"> <div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"> <hr size="1"> From: Delwin D Fandrich <del@fandrichpiano.com>; To: <pianotech@ptg.org>; Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha Sent: Fri, Nov 30, 2012 5:55:38 AM <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" style="font:inherit;">Wool is hygroscopic. It does absorb and desorb moisture and the tone characteristic changes as a result. Normally the change is slight and gradual. This may not be so slight. I'd certainly let time do what it will before attempting to chemically harden hammers that already have the reputation of being granite in disguise. And then, if they do not harden up enough to cause permanent hearing damage after they have dried out I'd sand off a layer before pouring on the chemicals. And, as Ron suggested, I'd try ironing them a bit. ddf Delwin D Fandrich Piano Design & Fabrication 6939 Foothill Court SW, Olympia, Washington 98512 USA Phone 360.515.0119 — Cell  360.388.6525 <a ymailto="mailto:del@fandrichpiano.com" href="javascript:return">del@fandrichpiano.com</a> — <a ymailto="mailto:ddfandrich@gmail.com" href="javascript:return">ddfandrich@gmail.com</a> -----Original Message----- From: <a ymailto="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" href="javascript:return">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [mailto:<a ymailto="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" href="javascript:return">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf Of <a ymailto="mailto:tnrwim@aol.com" href="javascript:return">tnrwim@aol.com</a> Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2012 8:30 PM To: Pianotech Subject: Re: [pianotech] Brighter Yamaha Thanks for the advice, so far. As a follow, I've that high humidity has an effect on hammers. This piano sat in empty house for five years in Hilo, but was moved to Oahu 2 weeks ago and is now in an air condition hall. Hilo is on the Windward side of the Big Island of Hawaii, where it rains A LOT. The piano is only 6 years old and has never been used. It has had a string cover and a damp chaser, so there no damage, and the hammers are virtually brand new. Would the being exposed to a lot of humidity be the reason the hammers are soft, and if I just wait 6 months they will brighten up by themselves? Wim Sent from my iPhone On Nov 29, 2012, at 3:57 PM, <a ymailto="mailto:tnrwim@aol.com" href="javascript:return">tnrwim@aol.com</a> wrote: > We usually have knock the edge off Yamaha hammers. But a church just got a small grand where the killer octaves need a little boost.  What is the recommended method for "juicing" up Yamaha hammers > > Wim > > Sent from my iPhone </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </div>