kneading hammers

[Norm Barrett]

David,
Schaff''s "Shank Knurling Pliers", No. 291, are the same pliers that I used 
for 35 years working for IBM and we called them "GAS PLIERS"
Quoting Schaff''s catalog, "A standard all-purpose pair of pliers for 
knurling or compressing hammer shanks. Can also be used for squeezing the 
shoulder on very hard piano hammers."

Norm Barrett

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Boyce" <David at piano.plus.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: kneading hammers


> Well Rupert, it just goes to show, I can't find a thing when it's staring 
> me in the face!
>
> There it is sure enough on p61 of my revised third edition 1976 reprint.
>
> That one little paragraph raises big questions and leaves 'em unanswered, 
> I fear.  What is meant by gas pliers?  Pliers such as would be used by a 
> gasfitter?  The idea of gripping the hammer  felt then levering it from 
> side to side fills me with qualms.  If you actually levered the felt by 
> any perceptible amount, I think it would be awfully easy to do untold 
> damage. In my view, gentle compression without any twisting or levering 
> would be safer.
>
> If you have the felt of a bass hammer in the jaws of a pair of pliers, and 
> you squeeze the pliers, then at least momentarily you are reducing the 
> width of the hammer.  The felt has to go SOMEWHERE so presumably in 
> altering shape momenatily it redistributes itself, and in forcing that to 
> happen, you open up the fibers of the felt inside the hammer to some 
> degree.
>
> I guess you are doing the right thing, in experimenting cautiously on 
> pianos where you won't get sued if it goes horribly wrong!
>
> Best,
>
> David.
>
>