[CAUT] summer procedures

[G Cousins]

Ben,
Thanks for your input. That is what I am looking to analyze. 
I've been using punch lists for many many years. Always find it handy and avoids errata during distracting times. 
I'll keep you posted.
Gerry Cousins

Any others wish to add to the data?

From: sloaneba at ucmail.uc.edu
To: caut at ptg.org
Date: Thu, 14 May 2009 12:29:44 -0400
Subject: Re: [CAUT] summer procedures
















I knew this would happen. I remembered last night we also did
some rough backcheck regulation, just if hammers didn’t check. Basically
we made sure it did not hit the tail in up swing, caught down swing, and
roughed up surface as necessary. Also led to a lot of back check recovering for
the crew. I might add due to more recent experiences hammershank re-pinning
depending on the trustworthiness of workers.

   I should add all this happened on the basis of a
checklist. Some sub-sections were included, for instance, plate screws, then
check box, lid screws, then check box, lid hinge screws, then check box, etc.
It was easy to forget what you did without the checklist as this at times
lasted the whole day. One check list per room, that helped us to keep track.

   It was pretty easy to monitor, especially in locked
rooms. Though it may seem unfair, there was a better than flipping burgers
aspect, and believe it or not, the easiness of it could be appealing for some.  

 





From:
caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Sloane,
Benjamin (sloaneba)

Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:22 PM

To: 'caut at ptg.org'

Subject: Re: [CAUT] summer procedures





 

    Hello Gerry,

   No one answered this as I would have that I could
find who answered you on the list. I hesitated because I am having trouble
remembering a complete list of what I experienced in this process both participating
in and the supervising of it. I will try to remember the essential parts of
what we did in Oberlin as a type of summer job for student help in the
80’s. Some of it was Steinway specific. I will add some description of
benefits I see.

 

1.      
Tighten all case hardware, and shim stripped screws as
necessary. 

This I would say was the best part of the procedure. It
eliminated a fair amount of case buzzing. As a result, virtually all the lid
hinge screws remained intact at Oberlin. I wish I could say the same for pianos
at other schools. This had other practical significance. For instance, we also
did this to the stack. We all know what loose and stripped stack screws can do
to regulation.

2.      
Wipe down piano with Murphy’s oil soap water, next to no
Murphy’s oil soap, and with cheese cloth.

Try to follow grain of piano finish.  

3.      
Vacuum piano throughout, removing action. 

This had obvious benefits. I still have trouble getting into the
habit of doing this myself these days at an institution frequently without the
student help for a summer cleaning procedure. Careful, some people do not
realize jamming the vacuum cleaner end around the tuning pins can screw up the
tuning. 

4.      
Run cloth between strings and soundboard with jimmy, duck taped
on the end. 

Need to be careful doing this as that the jimmy can slip off the
rag and scratch the soundboard. 

5.      
Regulate Damper stop rail.

The damper stop rail on Steinways tends to ride up the screws
over time. It is not too difficult to train someone just to do this correctly.

6.      
Pedal repairs.

This entailed checking the pedals for lateral motion. This
problem develops in other pianos besides Steinway for different reasons. Remove
and repair as necessary. General summer cleaning process a great time for doing
this. Frequently a problem with heavy use pianos. 

7.      
Turning front rail pins to mitigate loose bushings.

Not too difficult to do, and did protract life of the bushing.

8.      
Lube key bed and bottom of key frame, glides. 

Shift pedal problems diminished. 

 

I am sure I am forgetting some of this, but I can’t
remember anything else we did every year. The following we did intermittently:

 

1.      
Lube knuckles. 

No need for debate on what is best for this. We did it. Not
necessary every year.

2.      
Lube key frame 

Again, no need for debate. Removing the keys also aided the
cleaning process. Time was a consideration.

3.      
Move capo strings side to side to eliminate capo buzz. 

One way of improving problems with capo buzz, we thought,
involved taking a large screwdriver and shoving the capo strings side to side
far as possible, and spacing them to the string grooves on the hammer again.
Obviously some tuning is involved, not necessarily from the cleaning crew.
  

 

   There are obviously other possibilities. Inter alia,
this enabled us to establish a screening process for determining who really
wanted to learn about piano technology, and who was just fooling around. A
luxury student help gives if you have it. 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 





From: caut-bounces at ptg.org
[mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of G Cousins

Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 10:38 AM

To: CAUT

Subject: [CAUT] summer procedures





 

Does
anyone have, or wish to share, thoughts on summer servicing procedures?

Priortizing. Servicing levels, Regulating, Tuning, Cleaning, Cabinet
repairs etc. 

Maybe in the archives but one of the plebes inquired to see my tick
list for summer instrument servicing procedures for the inventory. Perhaps if
there's nothing available, I can consolidate into one practical doc for
all.

Much appreciated,

Gerry

 

Gerry Cousins,RPT

Lead Instrument Technician

West Chester University of PA

gcousins at wcupa.edu

 

is est quinque alicubi 

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