List, I'm refurbishing one of our fleet of Baldwin 743 Hamilton-type uprights, with the university patina, n'est pas?, and I'm debating whether or not to turn the bass strings. I don't intend to replace the strings because I'd rather spend our meager resources elsewhere, so I'm wondering whether turning the strings would make that much of a difference at this point(This piano was built roughly 1970). If not, I'll use the time for other pursuits. I'd appreciate any input. Thanks much Regards, Steve Kabat -----Original Message----- From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Susan Kline Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2004 5:47 PM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: CA - Loose Pins At 10:16 PM 4/10/2004 -0400, you wrote: >Hi, > I have several pins in a couple of different places,that need > attention.The piano doesn't get enough use to replace block at this > time,and instead of using oversized pins,of shims,I thought I might try > the CA glue method. >Best, >Hazen Bannister >Clemson University I have done this to a Steinway A and a few assorted grands and uprights which had marginally loose pins, but for whom block replacement didn't make sense. I use the least I can, and always have had good results. First, coming to the piano, I see which individual strings went out the worst since I last tuned. They get a little CA put right on the tuning pin where it enters the plate bushing. Then I take the corner of a towel and sop up any extra. I wait a few minutes, then move the pin. Once in awhile I add a little more later, but usually this is all it takes. Using this little, I never have had it soak through to the bottom of the hole. After putting cardboard between the pinblock and the stack several times, which never had anything drop onto it, I stopped worrying. If any other strings seem unstable or feel loose as I'm tuning, I'll give them a few drops. The ones which tend to need it are the lowest couple of strings in the bass, and the crowded section in the tenor, and a few notes in the first capo area. I think that lubricant added to the threads of the lowest plate screw sometimes migrates to the first tuning pin area. Why a few pins in octave 5 tend to be loose I don't know. Perhaps the constant tuning, retuning, and pounding, and re-retuning gets them looser than the pins in other areas. Coming back weeks or months later, I check unisons when I first arrive again. Now and then, I've added CA to a couple more notes, (close to the first ones) but usually I haven't needed to. The CA is shiny when dry, so one can usually see where it has been used before, by a shine next to the treated tuning pin. I like Quicktite by Loctite, in the .18 or .36 oz. (5 or 10 gm.) size. It has a long narrow spout, and a little needle in the cap, and it slips into my kit right next to the small bottle of Elmer's. One bottle usually lasts me two or three months. I use it, I estimate, several times a week, but usually only a few drops at a time. It's handy for a variety of jobs. It's usually nearly gone before it seizes up in the bottle. Be sure to replace the cap right away, since humidity is the enemy of CA shelf life. Good luck with your pinblock. I think you'll much prefer CA to shims, oversized pins, glycerin and alcohol flooding, etc. It just doesn't damage the pinblock like the other methods, and it helps rather than harms the firmness of the neighboring tuning pins. Since CA is water-thin, it can follow cracks and appears to stabilize them. Using bigger pins just worsens cracking and separations. Regards, Susan Kline P.S. If using a lot more than I do, as most other tuners seem to, VENTILATION!!!! _______________________________________________ caut list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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