Opinions On Insta-coiler

[jpiesik@arinc.com]

     Hi Arnold,

     This is my opinion:  don't waste your money.

     Even if you're doing complete re-stringing jobs you don't have to have
     anything fancy.  I use a 1 1/2 inch hardwood dowel with a hole drilled
     in one end for the tuning pin.  Next to the hole is a screw to guide
     the string as I twist a coil onto the tuning pin.  I even bought a
     fancy machined aluminum tool last year to replace my homemade tool -
     the one with the adjustable screw/wingnut at one end for adjusting the
     tuning pin depth and fancy knurling around the outside of the tool.
     It's a nice tool.  Never used it yet.  I like my homemade tool for
     making coils.

     This isn't rocket science and doesn't require high precision.
     Good-looking coils come from experience, skill, and careful
     workmanship.

     Save your money for a Genck String Case instead!

     John Piesik
     Piesik's Piano Service
     Carlsbad, CA
     JPIESIK@ARINC.COM


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Opinions On Insta-coiler
Author:  Arnold.Schmidt@BBS.delta.com at SMTPGATE
Date:    12/4/96 1:12 PM


  A technician friend in California called last night to tell me about
his just spending $55 for an Insta-coiler from Schaff.  He has not used
it yet, so has no opinion yet as to whether it is a worthy tool.  I
heard from the head of the piano school which I attended that he bought
a coil-making device years ago (not necessarily an Insta-coiler) in
which the internal threads quickly stripped out and he wished he had
spent his money on something else.  Does anyone on the list have an
opinion about this Instacoiler?  Most of my stringing needs are
replacing individual strings on pianos, as opposed to complete
restringing jobs.

Arnold Schmidt, Raleigh, NC