[CAUT] reverse grip tuning pins

[Jim Busby]

Thanks Mark,

I ordered a few Lo Torque sets from Pianotek and they only had 3 sizes
listed; 3 1/2, 4, and 4 1/2 and only had 2 of the three available. I
can't remember which size wasn't in stock, but they said they had plenty
of the other two.

A raid of Alan's shop is always in order.

Cheers,
Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Mark Cramer
Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2007 2:40 PM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: [CAUT] reverse grip tuning pins

Jim,

I've pasted Ron N's reply/definition below.

My belief is that they offer a bit more resistance in the loosening
direction, however, as Ron  suggests that may be due solely to the fact
the
threads are "cut" not "pressed."

BTW, I notice Alan mentioned "low torque" pins, are they still
available, or
should we plan an evening raid on his shop supplies?

Mark C.

PS I suggested earlier that Kawai had been using these forever, but now
recall re-stringing/pinning several with nickel plated threads. I would
imagine these weren't "cut" threads.



Mark,

100% agreement on not reaming. What are reverse grip pins?

Thanks,
Jim Busby BYU



They're cut thread pins, like Denro. Salesmen who were trying
to make the other guy's pianos (using these pins) look bad
would wrap a pin in a silk scarf and show how it would turn
easily one direction and not in the reverse. The pitch was
that these evil pins had *teeth* that would tear up the block
in the competitor's product. The guys who's pianos had these
pins used the same demo, illustrating how these pins resisted
turning backward, and would therefor hold a tuning longer
without "slipping".  Neither happened in actual pianos, of
course, and the *teeth* were just an incidental artifact of
the thread cutting. They weren't planned at all, but just came
with the process.

Is it even possible to buy pressed or rolled thread pins any
more? The last I saw were from APSCO, I think, long ago.
Guaranteed to snap and jump in pretty much any block, mic'd
out of round, tapered, reverse tapered, and an interesting
variety of diameters in every box. Wonderful things. I think
maybe Kimball used pressed thread pins too.

In any case, it's cut threads for me.
Ron N