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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Bill,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I offer two length shafts 8" and 10" x =
1/2" hex
powder coated or blued, </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>also 15% and 20% heads with a #2 or #3
head.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>all but the tips are my design and we =
are tooling
up to make the tip.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The reason for the 1/2" hex is =
STRENGTH, to not
flex like most smaller shafts, and control in moving the hammer from pin =
to pin.
One can move the hammer by using the knob end but I find that it is =
easier to
move the hammer by holding the hammer about 2" from the head when tuning =
an
upright, and in the middle on grands. The hex shape keeps the hammer =
from
twisting when placing it on the next pin.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The weight of the hammer with a 10" =
shaft is 11 oz.
without knob the 8" shaft is 9 oz. without knob The knobs can weigh from =
2 to 6
oz. depending on the shape and wood used.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>So far all who have purchased my hammer =
have had
nothing but rave reviews. The user can feel the pin pop in the pinblock =
as the
pin turnes. Hey that would be a good title</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>" As The Pin Turns ".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The heads are recommended not to be =
changed and are
solidly screwed on the shaft.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Both ends are 1/8" pipe thread so that =
either end
can be used to mount a tuning tip.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If I need to use my thin wall for a pin =
or two or a
piano, I simply remove the knob and mount the tip at that end using the =
regular
tip as the knob.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You can tune right handed a few more =
notes into the
treble of a grand by removing the knob and just using the shaft to
tune.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>Joe Goss<BR><A
href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</A><BR><A
href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com">www.mothergoosetools.com</A></DI=
V>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=Billbrpt@AOL.COM =
href="mailto:Billbrpt@AOL.COM">Billbrpt@AOL.COM</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, June 16, 2002 =
11:10
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Tuning Hammer and =
Technique for
Novice</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2>List,
<BR><BR>Yesterday, while completing the Pinblock Doping job, a newer
subscriber to this List and a resident of Madison, Wisconsin, Tyler =
Smith
dropped by to introduce himself. He is interested in learning =
the Piano
Tuning and Technology trade. <BR><BR>His first concern is about =
acquiring a
tuning hammer. He expressed reluctance at getting a "student" =
hammer
from Schaff Piano Supply, concerned that it would be inferior and =
perhaps wear
out prematurely. I told him that such a basic tool was not =
necessarily a
bad one, however. What it is, is light weight and some =
technicians
prefer something far more massive. <BR><BR>I used such a hammer for =
many years
and personally prefer a lighter weight hammer. When I decided to =
try
Charles Huether's WonderWand ball end hammer, I instantly took to it =
and it
has been my choice for over 10 years now. I have seen other =
opinions
about this, however, at least one in which the writer said he couldn't =
understand how anyone could use one and get a piano tuned. I =
think the
difference in preferences boils down to heavy or light, long or short, =
springy
or stiff, ball end or conventional handle. <BR><BR>We also discussed =
hammer
technique. I think most people would start with a concept of =
slow pull
as I did. I know that there are some excellent tuners who use a =
slow
pull technique, so I can't say that it is wrong. But what I =
learned from
George Defebaugh and Jim Coleman at the 1979 Convention in Minneapolis =
was an
impact type technique which I quickly converted to and have used ever =
since.
<BR><BR>I remember George explaining that an impact type technique was =
the
most mechanically correct and appropriate way to move the piano =
string.
His reasoning made sense to me and thus that kind of technique =
has
worked for me. However, when I am trying to help someone learn =
to tune
better, the student will often feel discouraged that he or she cannot =
seem to
"pop" a string into tune with a single stroke the way I often can. =
That is
where practice and experience allow me to tune very rapidly and =
accurately but
those skills took many years to acquire. <BR><BR>In the end, I advise =
the
student that he or she must find what kind of hammer and technique =
seem to
work for them. If one kind or style is tried and it doesn't seem =
to be
working out, then maybe another will. I often see people write =
of the
difficulty and frustration with tuning a Steinway vertical. I =
never have
any trouble with them at all but it is because I think I have found =
the proper
tool and technique to defeat what otherwise is a maddeningly difficult =
piano
to tune. <BR><BR>Let's hear some opinions about the best way to get =
started
with a tuning hammer and technique. I don't expect everyone to =
agree
with my opinion and I even welcome a well reasoned opinion that is in =
direct
conflict with mine. I think it is best for a student and =
everyone
really, to at least understand a different point of view. <BR><BR>My =
current
tuning hammer is well worn and due for replacement. What I think =
I'd
like to do is try Joe Goss' ball end tuning hammer. My question =
is if it
is light, medium weight or heavy. I don't want a heavy hammer =
because
that would cut down on my speed. I'm inclined to buy another =
WonderWand
and let Tyler try my old one for a while but I am intrigued with =
trying Joe's
hammer. Joe, can you tell us a little about your ball end hammer =
and why
you think it may be better than the WonderWand? <BR><BR>Bill Bremmer =
RPT
<BR>Madison, Wisconsin <BR><A =
href="http://www.billbremmer.com/">Click here:
-=w w w . b i l l b r e m m e r . c o m =-</A>
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