Abel Mahogany-core Hammers fitted to Kawai Grand
Setting up the jig
20100329-1602 248 		Testing the height of the string line
20100329-1603 249 		Measuring the weight.
20100330-1732 251 		The markings for the weight on the lowest notes 57 - 73 - 67 - 63 - 76 (grams).
20100330-1732 252 		The shank-flanges are Renner standard. The Kawai action rail requires them to be 1.5mm shorter.
20100331 1402
It's hard to see in the photo. The original set-up had the hammers leaning to the left in the middle section, and leaning to the right in the alto section.
20100401-1256 253 		Drilling the holes in the new mahogany-core hammers from Abel.
20100401-1400 		The new hammers for the end of each section are fitted first.
20100401-1510 254 		The two top sections are done.
20100402-1422 268 		Half way!
20100402-1423 269
Just the bass to go.
20100402-1541 270 		Generally pianos are designed to have the hammers in a straight line. On this model, the top section deviated slightly such that the top hammers shanks are slightly short.
20100402-1541 271 		Checking the hammer line. Each hammer is glued on and aligned against the straight-edge.
20100402-1542 273 		Checking the alignment of the tenor and alto sections.
20100402-1543 274
20100403-279
Same
20100403-281
20100403-282 		The bass section complete. The glue needs to dry for a day before the shanks can be machined to be flush.
20100403-283 		Back view of the hammers, showing the extra length protruding.
20100403-286 		I machined the bass and tenor hammers one by one, removing them from the action rail, because of the angles.
20100403-287
Before ..
20100403-288 		The shanks are clamped together to allow for sanding the whole section.
20100403-289 		... and after
20100403-290 		All that remains is for me to make the action work,
20100403-292
 
The old hammers were good standard hormbeam-core Kawai hammers, heavily grooved and over-voiced. The new hammers (Abel part no. 222/0) have mahogany cores, giving a warmer more rounded tone, with more possibilites. I have set the angles to follow the string angles very closely. This is closer than originally designed, but requires a little more machining, which is why it wasn't done in the factory. I anticipate that the extra time and effort put into this job will be evident in the resulting tone. I apologise for the extra time, but I am sure you will be happy with the new sound and feel.
 
   
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