Wire cutter modification

[Richard Anderson]

Warren Fisher wrote about Starrett cutter modification, see quote at
end.

You can accomplish the same effect without modification by holding the
cutters backward (handles facing away) and sighting down to the target
pin off a landmark on the cutters. I use the smaller cutters and line up
the spring over the hole. The spring is 2.5" from the jaws which gives
2.5 coils (1"= approx 1 coil). I find it easy and accurate and allows me
to sight to the front or back of the hole depending on the area of the
piano to end up with equal coils.

Richard Anderson, RPT
Elgin, IL

Warren Fisher wrote
> Which reminds me of a tool modification I saw years ago that was really
> interesting, but never did anything about, because I didn't have a drill
> press at the time.  It was a Starrett wire cutter with a piece of about
> 1/8th inch thick rod (maybe smaller) attached through a hole drilled in
> the side of one of the jaws and bent to lie alongside the cutting jaws
> while you were cutting the wire!
>
> The distance the rod extended beyond the jaws was the piano wire length
> needed to make the coil!  You stretched the wire over the tuning pin,
> touched the tip of the rod to it (the target pin) while maneuvering the
> cutter into cutting position and SNAP; you get an exact length of wire
> every time! No necessary adjustments for width of fingers! :-)
>
> The rod was bent 90 degrees to go through the hole and again on the far
> side to keep it from falling out.  When you were finished the rod could
> be pivoted around in its' hole to lie along the handle of the cutter for
> compactness of storage.
>
> Let me know if you do this, and particularly what distance the rod
> should extend beyond the cutter blades because I'm sure my notes about
> it are long gone.  I'll do the same.
>
>                                                 Warren
>
> --
> Warren D. Fisher
> fish@communique.net
> Registered Piano Technician
> Piano Technicians Guild
> New Orleans Chapter 701