Pro Tip 28: Hammer shaping

As a skilled piano technician, I understand the importance of maintaining a piano's optimal performance and tonal quality. One crucial aspect of piano maintenance involves shaping worn-out hammers. By carefully reshaping these hammers, I can restore their original form, ensure they strike the strings accurately, and produce the desired sound.

In this video, I will show some examples of poorly shaped hammers and demonstrate my shaping techniques. I delicately sculpt the hammers to refine their contours and restore their resilience. This process involves removing excess felt material and reshaping the striking surface to achieve optimal contact with the strings. By doing so, I enhance the hammers' responsiveness, allowing them to produce a clear and well-rounded tone.

Furthermore, shaping piano hammers improves their durability and longevity. As hammers wear down over time, they can become misshapen and lose their effectiveness. By skillfully reshaping them, I restore their integrity and prevent further degradation, ensuring consistent performance and extending their lifespan.

By employing my expertise and using specialized tools, I meticulously shape each hammer to achieve a harmonious balance between weight, shape, and density. This ensures that the hammers strike the strings precisely, producing the desired dynamics and tonal character for each key.

You can learn the process of shaping worn-out piano hammers is an integral part of the role of a piano technician.