>part--too much torque and you can shear it right off. I've never
>deigned to straighten an agraffe that had strings running through it
>because, as straightening them is part of my restringing (or occasionally
>repairing) protocol, I always thought it was safer to get whatever tool
>you happen to be using to tighten the agraffe as close to the ledge of the
>agraffe as possible (see below).
>
>Am I being over-cautious or is tightening an agraffe with contact in only
>the top half (ie. above the string holes) of the agraffe hazardous
>business?
>
I've straightened lots this way. Bent a couple, but never broke one. You
just have to be careful and "feel" your work.
>Also, I use an adjustable crescent wrench (I think that's what they're
>called!) rather than the "agraffe removing tool" because I've busted too
>many of them -- or gnarled them beyond hope! Actually, I also use a
>vice-grips attached to the wrench for better leverage.
I think the tool just about has to be made from tool steel. I made my own by
grinding a 3/8" ratchet extention. The hitch here is that the tool steel is
nearly impossible to file. The only way to work it is with an abrasive
cutting wheel. I use one in my handy (can't do without it) 3 1/2" grinder.
Mark Story, RPT
Eastern Washington University | mstory@ewu.edu
Cheney, Washington, USA | mark.story@phunnet.org
"Is it not strange, that sheeps' guts should hale souls out of men's bodies?"
Shakespeare - Much Ado About Nothing
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