Dick, Another method that can also work well to install the new front or balance rail pins is a bench-mounted (hand operated) arbor press; the type with the arm which you move up and down to press the pins into place. Be sure to control the installation depth. As far as I have heard, it is never proper to pound the pins in with a hammer as that can mushroom the pin tops and make a loose fit in the wood. Sometimes the new pins are a little smaller diameter (about 0.0001" difference) than the originals. To give the new pins a tighter fit in the rail, simply steam the open holes in the rail after removal of the old pins. Then allow the rail to settle for several days before installing the new pins. The steaming should take no more than 5 minutes per rail. For old pins that are difficult to remove, I have clamped a vise grip or small c-clamp to the top of the old pin; then used the upright hammer remover tool between the rail and the c-clamp. This works for me as it removes the toughest pins easily without any chance of placing side stress on the wood. One could easily motorize the upright hammer remover by attaching a small variable speed drill, power screwdriver, or Foredom with flex shaft to the screw shaft on the upright hammer tool. This might save the hands and speed things up. Fred Scoles, RPT On Mon, 30 Dec 1996 Pianotoone@aol.com wrote: > I am working on a piano that has slightly water damaged. The balance & front > rail pins are slightly rusty. Seems to me replacing them would be the way to > go. They don't cost that much. I pulled one each of the two kinds of pins. > They were difficult to remove. Any tips for easy/safe removal and what is > best way to put them back in the holes without marring them? Thanks > > Dick Day > Marshall MI >
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