ark Welcome to the "club" of piano technicians. Re your request for instructions on string replacement, I taught a "mini technical" at one of our conventions and still have the handout file. I hope this helps you out. Brian De Tar RPT "NO OBSTACLES...ONLY OPPORTUNITIES!!" BDeTar@aol.com String Replacement/Repair by Brian De Tar May 90 REPLACEMENT; DOUBLE STRING 1. Remove action (if necessary) or tilt it back; 2. Remove broken string from tuning pin/pins; 3. Turn tuning pins out 1-1/2 turns; 4. Measure Wire to determine gauge; A. gauge = diam. - 5 /2; 5. Cut a piece of wire slightly longer than needed; bend in half using hitch pin or similar; 6. Place through agraffe or under pressure bar; 7. Place string on hitch pin; 8. Measure approx. 4 fingers from tuning pin; 9. Cut string to length; 10. On separate tuning pin, wind string 2-1/2 turns; 11. Remove from spare pin, place on tuning pin in piano; 12. Repeat for string two; 13. Holding string up with string lifter, put enough tension on string to hold becket in place; 14. Repeat with second string; 15. Check to make sure strings are seated on hitch pins, routed through bridge pins, becket is tight in tuning pin hole, and coil is tight; 16. Pull up to pitch; 17. Reseat strings A. to bridge and hitch pins; B. squeeze string around hitch pin; C. stretch string with wood, brass or soft steel; 1. between hitch pin and bridge pin; 2. speaking length; 3. between pressure bar and tuning pins; D. lift strings on each side of agraffe/pressure bar; 18. Make sure strings are level and damper is seated; 19. Make sure coils are level (you should be able to see hole in tuning pin; 20. Fine tune. SINGLE STRING REPLACEMENT 1. Using round nose pliers or hitch pin, make a loop; 2. Maintaining continuity with the rest of the piano, wind coils in same direction; 3. Proceed as above from step #6. STRING SPLICING 1. Use wire 1/2 size larger than broken wire; 2. Use vise grips to form loop on end of each portion of string A. #1 clock-wise; B. #2 counter clock-wise; C. Make loops approx. same size as as wire diameter; 3. Make first loop on new wire and thread on broken string, then make loop on broken string, slide tight; 4. Proceed as above from step #6. WOUND STRING REPLACEMENT 1. Dead strings may sometimes be rejuvenated by twisting in the direction of wrap; 2. Check for liquid contaminant on windings (silicone, oil or grease); 3. To get replacement, provide string maker with: A. core diameter; B. overall diameter; C. distance from hitch pin to start of wrap; D. total length of wrap; E. wrap material; F. single or double wrap; 4. Universal strings should only be used until a replacement string can be installed; 5. On universal strings, remove wrap approx. 1/4" closer to hitch pin and approx. 1/4" further away from agraffe or plate pins; 6. Proceed as in above from step #6. PIANOTECH Digest 221 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Key cleaning by Yardbird47@aol.com 2) humidity by DAMPPCHASR@aol.com 3) Re: worn back checks &squeaky wippens by Frederick G Scoles <scoles@Oswego.Oswego.EDU> 4) Re: commercial HCS by DAMPPCHASR@aol.com 5) Re: worn back checks &squeaky wippens by Newton Hunt <nhunt@rci.rutgers.edu> 6) Re: worn back checks &squeaky wippens by Vince Mrykalo <REEVESJ@ucs.byu.edu> 7) subject headings please! by johnsond@stolaf.edu (Dennis Johnson) 8) Cracked plates by randyr@cuix.pscu.com 9) Re: re- fortepiano key "bushing by Stephen Birkett <SBIRKETT@envsci.uoguelph.ca> 10) String Gauge by drose@sask.maple.net (Don Rose) 11) humidity control by drose@sask.maple.net (Don Rose) 12) Re: humidity control by ATodd@UH.EDU 13) Re: humidity by John Musselwhite <musselj@cadvision.com> 14) Re: humidity control by allen@pengar.com 15) re- fortepiano key "bushing by Allen Wright <Allen_Wright@qmgate.cc.oberlin.edu> 16) Re: re- fortepiano key "bushing by Stephen Birkett <SBIRKETT@envsci.uoguelph.ca> 17) 4% by drose@sask.maple.net (Don Rose) 18) Re: worn back checks by johnsond@stolaf.edu (Dennis Johnson) 19) Re: worn back checks by ATodd@UH.EDU 20) Knocking keyframe by ATodd@UH.EDU 21) New Bridge Pins by TLGreene@aol.com 22) Re Backchecks by Kenneth Sloane <Kenneth_Sloane@qmgate.cc.oberlin.edu> 23) Re: Cracked plates by Tunerguy@aol.com 24) re: urgent, help by Vanderhoofven <dkvander@clandjop.com> 25) Re: Cracked plates by David Porritt <dporritt@post.cis.smu.edu> 26) Re: New Bridge Pins by David Porritt <dporritt@post.cis.smu.edu> 27) Re: New Bridge Pins by Mark Story <mstory@ewu.edu> 28) Re: worn back checks by Horace Greeley <horace@compadept.com> 29) Re: Cracked plates by Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet1.buffnet.net> 30) Re: Knocking keyframe by kam544@ionet.net (Keith A. McGavern) 31) BPS by Colette Collier <73023.1551@compuserve.com> 32) cracked plate by rwest@unlinfo.unl.edu (richard west) 33) by JIMRPT@aol.com 34) Re: worn back checks by djohn@skypoint.com (Dennis Johnson) 35) Re: Help, URGENT! by Marniesqui@aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 08:22:35 -0500 From: Yardbird47@aol.com To: pianotech@byu.edu Subject: Re: Key cleaning >Allen, >I've had negative experience with 0000 steel wool on keytops. It abrades >polish on plastic tops, making them a satin rather than polished finish, >which is a matter of taste. I would suggest checking with the customer first. >Another caveat- as an organ technician I have seen the loose steel wool >fibers short circuit keyboards. I would not recommend using on Diskclaviers >for example. Key polish from Yamaha or Cory works the best for me. > >Regards, >Dale Probst Nice post, Dale...Keith ========================================== Nice postscript, Keith......Bill
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