<HTML><HEAD></HEAD> <BODY> So who makes the "right" punching?  = David I.   ----- Original message= ----------------------------------------> From: antares= <<A= href="mailto:antares@euronet.nl">antares@euronet.nl</A>> T= o: Pianotech <<A= href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>> Rec= eived: Sun, 15 Aug 2004 15:09:00 +0200 Subject: Re: lacquering= hammers On 15-aug-04, at 2:57, Erwinspiano@aol.com= wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE> <?fontfamily><?param Arial>  Ilex Andre= & Isaac<?/fontfamily> <?fontfamily><?param Arial>  I= agree with you Andre & would say that selling the client on= the tried & true idea of playing this piano in. You can give= him this post as well as the others as proof that you've been= soliciting other knowledgeable opinions, well at least Isaac's= & Andre's, & that the consensus is be patient & play= it. I like your approach of filing, ironing, fitting & power= regulating as Isaac stated etc. Always good first steps= before lacquer.<?/fontfamily> <?fontfamily><?param= Arial> However if all that won't do it and the hammers= really are a bit soft then I'd still encourage play in but= perhaps some really dilute gloss nitro cellulose lacquer &= acetone mixed thinly 8 or ten parts acetone to one part= lacquer. I'd experiment with a 4 to 6 drops on the crown of= the soggiest sounding hammer. I view this as sort of= a break in fluid & allows the hammer to pack in sooner= with playing. & if it sounds really inappropriate then you= can wash it down into the hammer with straight acetone & get= it away from the crown & return to where you were. You may= try just try straight acetone. Sometimes this alone brightens= thing up a bit without adding any hardening agents at= all.<?/fontfamily> <?fontfamily><?param Arial>Make= sense?<?/fontfamily> <?fontfamily><?param Arial>  = Regards Dale <?/fontfamily></BLOCKQUOTE> Of course Dale,= but I consider it a last resort treatment, indeed, like you said= :<?fontfamily><?param Arial> However if all that won't do= it and the hammers really are a bit= soft". <?/fontfamily>I also agree with Isaac who= mentioned the front punching. There are not many techs, I= believe, who understand the enormous influence of 'the right'= front punching. After many years of trying out various kinds= of front punching, we finally found the right kind, and it makes= all the difference. friendly greetings= from André Oorebeek Amsterdam - The= Netherlands www.concertpianoservice.nl www.grandpiano.= nl "where music is, no harm can be" </BODY></HTML>