<html><div style='background-color:'><DIV class=RTE> <P>Terry,</P> <P>I tune almost all uprights with a Mehaffey impact wrench.  It saves the back quite a bit.</P> <P>Years ago a tech  loaned one to my father to try out before he bought it.  After my father bought his, the tech didn't want his back yet, so it went on loan to another tech in the Santa Clara Valley chapter (CA).  It passed from hand to hand for about a year.</P> <P>The reactions were almost universal.  Most hated it in the beginning, but if they persisted until they learned the new technique, ended up buying their own.</P> <P>I think it requires a greater attention to the sound when using the impact wrench. </P> <P> With most tuning hammers you can feel when the pin moves, so you have both senses helping you.  with the impact wrench, the only way you have of knowing whether the pin has actually moved and how much is by the sound.</P> <P>However, I still think it is worth it because you sit at the piano (yes, even tall uprights!) in a more natural position.  You put your arm out before you at a comfortable height and flick the wrist a bit.  The important thing is to remember to not glomb onto the shaft. Encircle the shaft with thumb and hand loosly and toss it back and forth.</P> <P>Another, really neat thing about using it is that you CAN grab it at the top like a normal (?) hammer for really fine setting of the pin if necessary. (Although one of it's virtues is that the shock to the pin tends to prevent pin twisting.)</P> <P>I think our profession is really indebted to Francis Mehaffey for some of the wonderful tools he invented for us!</P> <P>Diane<BR><BR><BR>Diane Hofstetter </P></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV></DIV>>From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> <DIV></DIV>>Reply-To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> <DIV></DIV>>To: <pianotech@ptg.org> <DIV></DIV>>Subject: Impact Tuning Hammers <DIV></DIV>>Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 14:56:43 -0500 <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>I should receive a McKaffee (sp?) -type impact tuning hammer from Schaff tomorrow. My intention is to use it for tuning a new S&S K52 on Friday. And then other verticals with tight tuning pins (all verticals maybe?) in the future. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>I bought one a couple years ago and on the first piano I tried to tune with it I sheared the threaded portion, that the tuning tip screws onto, right off (thanks to an S&S 1098). Naw, those tuning pins weren't tight! Does anyone make a hydraulic tuning lever? <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Anyway, I'm going to give the impact lever another try. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Anyone have much experience with these gizmos? Any technique tips to offer? <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Thanks. <DIV></DIV>> <DIV></DIV>>Terry Farrell <DIV></DIV></div></html>