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<DIV>In a message dated 4/22/2004 7:33:22 AM Pacific Standard Time, jkanter@=
rollingball.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue =
2px solid"><FONT face=Arial>So what's the current best practice for bright=
ening hammers? What I learned<BR>30+ years ago from Sheldon Smith was: apply=
ing judicious amounts of a 1/8<BR>solution of lacquer to the shoulders, foll=
owed immediately by a shot of pure<BR>thinner right on the crown.<BR><BR>For=
those who use lacquer, what brand? And what other hardeners are also in<BR>=
use, and which should be avoided?<BR><BR>Jason<BR><BR>> btw... Whats Delw=
ins take on hammers and laquer ? Seem to remember he<BR>> went furt=
her then we do over here for the natural hammer resiliancy<BR>> sid=
e. No... this is one of those typical <<opinions vary>><BR=
>> questions....and so it should be :)<BR>></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV> <FONT size=3><STRONG>Jason. </STRONG></FONT>=
</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG> Your question has a multi faceted a=
nswer based on a multitude of variations.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3><STRONG> I was acquianted with t=
he Sheldon but do not recall discussing this. But I do know from =
working with Raw Steinway hammers that most of the time one <U>will not</U> =
get to the desired result using the above mentioned protocol. You may h=
owever turn the shoulders into imovable stone objects & still =
not get the tone where you wish it to be. The whole hammer must b=
e soaked. You can do it in a variety of different ways with a variety of str=
engths of solutions but they are too to numerous to detail on the list &=
disagreements will ensue breaking out into rancorous arguments & shouti=
ng matches. If your talking Steinway hammers then I suggest you follow =
their protocol. If your talking Ronsen Or Isaac that is also different. The =
inherent stiffens of the hammer is going to determine the amounts & loca=
tion. IN any case Call me as a phone call would be inherently more beneficia=
l. I'd be glad to give you my take on this.</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=3> Dale</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"=
>Erwins Pianos Restorations <BR>4721 Parker Rd.<BR>Modesto, Ca 95357<BR>209-=
577-8397<BR>Rebuilt Steinway , Mason &Hamlin Sales<BR>www.Erwinspiano.co=
m</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>