<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1"> <title></title> </head> <body text="#000000" bgcolor="#ccccff"> Hello Sarah,<br> <br> When fitting the tri-chord (and sometimes bi-chord) dampers on an upright or grand piano, a tool I find indispensable is a pair of damper felt pliers.  With these, the damper wedges can be squeezed or ironed to properly fit the strings.  They can be used cold, but it is a good idea to heat them up over a flame, on a stovetop, or using hot water.  (Be sure to give them a wipe so they are dry and clean  before use.)  Like any other good specialty tool they may not seem "cheap" at first glance, but they will pay for themselves on the first piano and give a lifetime of service.<br> <br> Available from any good supply house.  I personally carry them in two styles - normal sized jaws  (35 mm) and extra wide (50 mm).<br> <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.pianofortesupply.com/tools2.html">http://www.pianofortesupply.com/tools2.html</a><br> <br> <img src="cid:part1.00080801.06090201@pianofortesupply.com" alt=""><br> <br> Jurgen Goering<br> Piano Forte Supply<br> ---------------------------<br> <br> Sarah Fox wrote:<br> <blockquote type="cite" cite="mid200501280027.j0S0R7B12243@bridget.rudoff.com"> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Hi all,</font></div> <div> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">I just got finished replacing a lot of moth-eaten felt on my old Wissner, including of course the damper felt.  Most of the dampers sound great -- not too abrupt/whumpy, but not too sloppy either.  No "whooshing" or anything.  The only problem is the split wedges I'm using over those wound trichords that all you techs love so much.  (Honesly, I think these notes sound fine -- very "ballsy" and not poorly behaved at all.)  The problem is that the strings are spaced so closely that the little wedges don't insert adequately between them.  (The same wedges work fine for the plain wires in the lower tenor section.)  After sitting overnight, with the wedges gently "pressed" in place between the strings, damping was OK, but not great, for about 30 sec or so of playing.  Then the after-ring started up again -- not BADLY like the night before, but still noticeably.</font></div> <div> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">QUESTION:  Is this the sort of problem that will go away by itself, as the new dampers continue to seat?  Or am I using the wrong wedges?  Or perhaps I should "skinny down" the tips of these wedges by filing their inside surfaces with an emery board?</font></div> <div> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Thanks for any advice!</font></div> <div> </div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Peace,</font></div> <div><font face="Arial" size="2">Sarah</font></div> <div> </div> </blockquote> </body> </html>