[CAUT] Polishing Agraffes

[Ed Sutton]

For polishing the hole in the agraffe, try a piece of bamboo skewer about 2" long. Shape it as needed by turning it on a strip of abrasive paper. I think you'll find it gets the job done faster than a q-tip.

es
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Love 
  To: caut at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 8:59 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Polishing Agraffes


   I might add that the polishing process does, I think, have great value especially when you encounter a set of agraffes whose thread specs don't allow for easy replacement.  Other than that, however, I can't see the cost/quality benefit of not just replacing.  

   

  David Love

  www.davidlovepianos.com

   

  From: David Love [mailto:davidlovepianos at comcast.net] 
  Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 5:57 PM
  To: 'caut at ptg.org'
  Subject: RE: [CAUT] Polishing Agraffes

   

  One light turn with one of those little reamers and I've never had a noise problem with new agraffes and without going through the whole polishing routine.  In this case I'd probably opt for new just because it's easier and new agraffes aren't that expensive when you consider the labor of the polishing process to remove string grooves and discoloration and such.  Give them a quick shot of some lacquer for brass and they'll stay looking nice for much longer.   Whenever I change bass strings I just make it a habit of changing the agraffes.  

   

  David Love

  www.davidlovepianos.com

   

  From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com
  Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 12:20 PM
  To: caut at ptg.org
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Polishing Agraffes

   

   

   

  In a message dated 9/24/2009 12:45:59 P.M. Central Daylight Time, pmctooner at cfl.rr.com writes:

    Since the agraffes are out, don't fool with them. Put in new ones. You'll get a better termination.

  Can you provide some proof of that statement? I'd love to see it. :-)

   

  Paul








    ---- Lawrence R K Becker <lawrence.becker at insightbb.com> wrote: 
    > The agraffes are out of the piano.  I have been putting the polish on,
    > letting dry, then buffing with a polishing wheel on a Dremel tool, and using
    > a pipe cleaner in a second Dremel tool for the holes and their concavities.
    >  
    > Lawrence
    > 
    >   _____  
    > 
    > From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mccoy,
    > Alan
    > Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 7:05 PM
    > To: CAUTlist
    > Subject: Re: [CAUT] Polishing Agraffes
    > 
    > 
    > Are you polishing the agraffes in the piano fully strung or removing them?
    > Also are you polishing just the outside surfaces?
    > 
    > Alan
    > 
    > 
    > 
    >   _____  
    > 
    > From: Lawrence R K Becker <lawrence.becker at insightbb.com>
    > Reply-To: CAUTlist <caut at ptg.org>
    > Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:08:23 -0700
    > To: CAUTlist <caut at ptg.org>
    > Subject: [CAUT] Polishing Agraffes
    > 
    > Dear Group-
    > 
    > What polishing compound do you find works well when cleaning up agraffes?  I
    > have some from a new Boston that were discolored after an HVAC pipe leaked
    > into the piano, down the (mostly) bass strings, and into the agraffes.  I
    > used Hagerty Heavy-Duty copper brass & metal polish, which initial tests
    > showed to work a little better than Brasso.  The results are not
    > acceptable--the discoloration is still there, and the brass did not get that
    > high shine I've seen when polishing capstans.
    > 
    > I'll have to re-do these, and would like to do so only once.
    > 
    > Any help appreciated.
    > 
    > Lawrence Becker, RPT
    > Northern Kentucky University
    > 
    > 
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