<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> <body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" link="#0000EE" vlink="#551A8B" alink="#FF0000">   zoran grujic wrote: <blockquote TYPE=CITE>      Hi List,      my name is Zoran Grujic,I work as piano teacher and technician in Yugoslavia.I will have much voicing work on rock-hard hammers in old,bad grands in musical school here.I would like to hear some of your experiences about hammer softeners (alcohol/water,or some other mixture).How much water goes into alcohol?How to apply it? Hi Zoran.. If you use water / alcohol, then start out by mixing 9 parts alcohol to 1 part water. Apply say 5 drops just below each crown and wait a half an hour. Old packed hammers are often needeled many times and when water / alcohol is applied they can puff up like a hot marshmellow. Newer hammers or less needled hammers can take a bit more. You have to get a feel for how much you need, so start conservative. In rare cases you need to let any of the water / alcohol soak into the tip of the hammer. (however sometimes just 1-2 small drops here and only here works really well, depends on the conditions of the hammer) If the hammers are really worn and badly shaped, I like to rough shape them first. Alternatively there is a method using steam. I have only tried this a couple times so I havent gotten the nack of it yet. Others can help you with this method     I am also interested in shelac hammer hardener,which was in use before lacquers.The same questions as before.I checked archives,but didn't get all answers about it. Personally I like to use cellulose lakk. It doesnt leave the same stain on the hammer felt and I like the ease of use. But if you want to use shelac, and I know a few people who do, find as blonde a flake as you can, and mix with alcohol in the same 9 to 1 as above. This will be enough shellac for hardinging hammers. Richard Brekne I.C.P.T.G.  N.P.T.F. Bergen, Norway                  Many thanks in advance.Regards,                                                               Zoran                                                              zorang@mgnet.co.yu</blockquote> </body> </html>