Voicing: what to use for hardening hammers

I was wondering what method you use toharden the hammers a little bit. I my case, I'ts needed for only a few (3-4), which are a bit softer than the rest. I'd like to know what methods can be used, especially those that can be 'undone' in case I'm not happy with the result.

If it's just 3 or 4 notes, the first question to ask is 'why?'. What makes those notes different? From my perspective, the only time applying voicing solutions in a situation like yours would be valid, would be if the hammers were previously lacquered but for some reason they 'missed' just those 3 or 4 notes. I doubt this is your situation. Therefore, getting to the root cause of why these notes stand out is the first choice, I believe.

Also, 'undoing' a chemical hammer hardening is not without it's consequences. You are putting in solid substances, and these substances are not coming out again. When using voicing solutions, my practice is to use such a weak dilution of solids, that one application deposits only a trace amount. Better to go over it 2 or 3 times than risk putting in too much all at once. The solids I use are a plastic similar to plastic keytop material (which can itself be used) and the solvent is acetone. I measure by volume not weight because of the consistency of the plastic pellets I use, but it seems to me it is something like a gram or two in 8 ounces of solvent.

However, you could safely iron the felts of the offending notes (using proper tools and techniques of course), and this might give the result you want, with little risk. This is the technique to use when everything else about the hammer is 'right' except perhaps too much nap on the surface, and just a small degree of brightening is needed.

Rick Clark

writes

The hammers could be misshaped, for a verity of reasons giving a pore tone, loos centres could be one. Hardener is not the way to go just for a few hammers.

Hello Rick!

These notes have been softened some time ago (with the needle), and now they are a littl bit mellow when compared to the rest. The sound of my piano is quite brilliant, and only these notes are a bit different.

I just want them to be like the rest, because the piano sounds wonderful now - brilliant but not metallic or strident.

No, it's not. I have no idea if the hammers have been ever hardened (my piano is an 1887 Bechstein with the original hammers, as far as I can tell).

I told you.

What are the proper tools for ironing?

Thanks for your help,

Calin

I see. So what should be done? the hammers have been needled some time ago. Not much, but now I think they are too soft.

These are in supply catalogs as 'hammer iron's. But really the principal is the same as a clothes iron, it's just the shape which follows the contour of the hammer that makes it a 'piano' tool. They make them either electric, or with butane fuel, or to be heated manually. The metal at the hot end is a thick, dense piece, such as heavy brass, so that it holds a lot of heat. But since you are only trying to do a few, that is not a critical issue for you. You could probably try it with an ordinary clothes iron. Awkward to hold and use, but you should be able to manage to iron them down. You want just slightly less heat than what it would take to burn the fibers.

However, since the actual problem is that they were needled whereas the others weren't, the result you get may not be as good as hoped. You may end up having to go to a voicing solution as previously mentioned. If you can't mix keytops in acetone, the traditional mix used to be lacquer, also extrememly dilute in its solvent.

Good Luck,

Rick Clark