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what can be done if light hammers were installed on a grand ? short of removing them and starting over? Is there a way to add weight to them? if so how much per hammer? in what proportion? the touch is too light as a result of this.

Melissa in Kansas

Melissa,

Is this the Chickering you are working on?

Dan Silverwood
www.silverwoodpianos.com

Yes, mass can be added to an installed set of
hammers. This is part of the training
of PTD installers. This can also allow the
tech to attain a smooth curve weight for the set, and then accurately balance the action.

The installer nearest you is Kent Swafford
in Lenexa: kswafford@gmail.com

It is quite easy to add weight to hammers. The proportion is based on the ratio of the action. Add one gram to the hammer and get about 5+ gram increase in downweight at the key and a similar increase in upweight.

no this is not the Chicken It is all finished and sounds and plays great THis one is an older Steinway "D" someone put a set of 14 LB. hammers on.

What is PTD?

The weight of the hammers is not the actual weight of them if you put them on a scale. It is the weight of the sheet of felt that the hammers are cut from. The weight of the hammer on the scale will depend on the felt, how it is cut, and the density of the molding.

yes OF COURSE....But that does not bring me any closer to a solution

You might consider removing some key lead. That is likely the least complex method of increasing touch-weight.

Contact Pianotek and have them send you a copy
of a booklet called The Touch Designers Tool Kit.
This will have a detailed explanation on how to
very accurately add mass to hammers, as well
as a lot of data on what hammer sets actually
weigh. They can also sell you all the tools and
lead wire for the project. But even if you want to
do it yourself, you still might want to contact
Kent and talk to him.

There is also the new weighting system sold by a member here (Supply). I know he has the new Fandrich/ Rhodes weighting system available.
Try this link………….

http://www.pianofortesupply.com/specialsmonth.html

Dan Silverwood
www.silverwoodpianos.com

thanks everyone I am going to study these methods of weighting. adding the lead wire to the moldings sounds promising..

Remember that each system has trade offs. Adding weight to the hammer moldings increases the load on the shank centers and knuckles which lead to increased friction and wear on the top of the action.
Decreasing the amount of lead weight in the keys will give you a heavier touch weight while reducing the inertia in those keys where you have decreased the amount of lead. At the same time you may have to increase the leading in the treble of the piano where you have to back lead.

Everything is a compromise.

If you like the sound, you may not want to add lead to the hammers, as it will have an effect on tone. Removing lead from the keys will not affect tone production.

An easy way to test whether you want to add weight to the hammers is to add spring clips to the shanks. Then you can play it to see if you like the sound and the feel of the action. You can buy boxes of these at Staples for a few bucks. They are easily removable.