Hi all,  I am restoring a 1895 Roenisch grand piano.  It has funny short
treble dampers which were a single piece of felt sewn in the middle to
give a recess.  All I have in stock is the more modern type of felt
which comes as two strips.

Unfortunately the two strips are too wide for the upper treble by about
1/8" or so.  I have guillotined them into the correct size already, but
I now still have the problem that they will either stick over the
damper too much or meet in the middle of the damper.  Both options are
not nice.

I experimented now and in the past to try and cut a little of the
pieces, but I find it impossible to get a straight edge.  The felt
compresses while being cut and then forms a belly in the middle of the
cut when done: -> Not good.  I was not thinking if it would be possible
to wet the felt and freeze it before cutting it.  That should, in
theory, give a straight edge because the felt would not compress when
frozen.

I will probably experiment with an off cut on the weekend but maybe
someone else has a better idea on how to cut under 1/8" of the side of
a piece of soft damper felt.

Kind regards,

Bernt Damm
Cape Town