With any
restringing job completed the price includes replacement damper
felt. Along with all of the dirt and oils collected by the felt over years of
service, the original felt work will be worn in a particular pattern that would
not fit well over the new strings. I find it best to install new felt so the
new wire can form its own pattern in fresh materials.
Replacement
damper felt can be found in bulk or in pre-cuts; either way is a satisfactory
replacement. Some times when replacing felt work one can discover a cut or
length of felt that is not offered by the supply house standard pre-cuts.
There are several felt guillotines sold by the
piano supply houses, and all of them do the job of custom cut felt in much the
same way. I use the guillotine quite a bit as I make my own backing felts at
times out of non- traditional reds and other colours.
Once the
replacement felts are ready for install they are glued into place with hot hide
glue. After 24 hours the dampers are ready to be reinstalled into the piano.
Because the damper wires were marked with a scribe previous to removal the
installation goes quite rapidly.
Here are
some photos of the damper replacement process and one of the felt cutters.
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