Easing Grand Damper rail bushings

[fssturm@unm.edu]

Hi Elwood,
   I have rarely seen a new (or old, come to think of it) Steinway that needed its 
guiderail bushings eased. At least if they were factory installed (rebuilds are 
another story). Usually if there is friction, it is because of too much bearing of the 
wire against the bushing. Steinway regulates to have the wire bear against one 
side of the bushing to give the damper more stability (IOW, it is "flopping around" 
less, hence will damp better). Sometimes the bend is too big, and the bearing 
really causes excess friction.
   But the tool you describe is the tool of choice, for easing bushings while the 
dampers are installed. It helps a great deal to take a file or grinder to the tool 
and reduce its thickness to nothing at the tip. And in use, heat it with a match or 
lighter. The effect is similar to the key bushing easing cauls (brass cauls in a 
heat controlled soldering iron). The tool doesn't work very well at all when not 
heated. More likely to push the bushing out. 
   In fact, I have considered (but haven't got around to) installing an umbrella tool 
in a small length of brass rod for use in the same soldering iron. Mostly for use 
with cheap imported grands, where the binding bushing is the norm. With 
dampers uninstalled, a similar device with the approriate diameter bridge pin (or 
other corretly dimensioned stock) works well to pre-size the bushings (a lot 
faster than installing pins in the bushings, then soaking with a shrinking 
solution).
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico

Quoting Elwood Doss <edoss@utm.edu>:

> Hey Guys,
> Any suggestions on the best tool for easing grand damper rail
> bushings?
> Schaff has a "Grand Damper Wire Easer" but I didn't know if there was
> a
> better product on the market or not.  I'm working on a 7' Steinway.
> Thanks,
> Joy!
> Elwood
> 
> Elwood Doss, Jr., R.P.T.
> Piano Technician/Technical Director
> Department of Music
> 106 Fine Arts Building
> University of Tennessee at Martin
> 731/587-1152
> 
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