<HTML><HEAD> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><FONT face="MS Sans Serif" size=2>The advice you've received is good so far.  Just one comment.  It would be good to try and determine how the hardener was applied before you go soaking the hammers with acetone.  If a drop or two was placed on the crown to sharpen the attack, you can probably needle it out without so much fuss or changing the underlying structure of the hammer.  Here's one possible scenario.  The hammers were Steinway hammers and were lacquered initially in the shoulders and under the crown in order to firm up the hammer overall.  The tone was basically fine.  Later, someone comes and puts a drop or two on the crown to sharpen the attack and the tone turns is too harsh and bright.   If you soak the hammers with acetone now you will change the underlying lacquer foundation and the hammer might end up too mushy or just weird.  Of course, I don't know what kind of hammers these are, but assuming they are Steinway style.  So try needling the crown first to see if you can't rectify the problem that way.  Use a single needle and feel for crustiness as you go.  Check individual strings frequently.  If the needles penetrate fairly easily, then it is likely that the hardener is only on the surface.  If the needles will not penetrate and the tone is distorted on a firm blow, then the hammer is likely hard deep and soaking the hammer may be the only solution.  If they are Abel or Renner hammers and lacquer or some other hardener has been applied, good luck, they are likely ruined.   Make sure, as others have advised, that the client knows the range of possibilities.   </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>David Love</DIV> <DIV><A href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">davidlovepianos@earthlink.net</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=Piannaman@aol.com href="mailto:Piannaman@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> 4/20/2004 8:03:06 PM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> No needling here: to steam, or not to steam?</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT size=2 PTSIZE="10">Voicers, steamers, needlers, what have you, <BR><BR>I have recently done a small amount of work installing short lid props for a woman who has two pianos, a Steinway M, and a Mason A.  When I was there, she complained about the tone of the M and H, saying that the last tuner applied something to the hammers, and it hasn't been her sweet old piano since. <BR><BR>I tried the instrument, and sure enough, it sounded like bricks hitting tin cans.  I told her that if she was dissatisfied with it, she should call the person who juiced it and have her voice it down.  She did, and lots of needling didn't do the trick. <BR><BR>When I was there last, I'd mentioned that I heard steam voicing yielded good results, but I wasn't sure how it would work on over-lacquered hammers.  And I've never tried the technique myself, though many on this list have sung its praises.   <BR><BR>She is at wit's end, and wants her old M and H tone back.  I said I'd come and check the piano out, and look into the possibility of steaming the hammers.  I'm not certain how old the hammers are, but if something doesn't help them out soon, replacement will be in the cards(probably not a bad thing, except financially...:-(). <BR><BR>Questions:  How well does this technique work on over-lacquered hammers?  Can someone describe the best way to go about it?  I've heard damp-cloth/dry iron works well. <BR><BR>Maybe I should try side-needling....:-) <BR><BR>Thanks for any input.  I'll be scoping the piano out on Thursday. <BR><BR>Dave Stahl <BR><BR></FONT></FONT></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>