What is "Flagpoling?" back

[pianoman]

Ahhhh, just like a breath of fresh air.  Glad your back.
James Grebe
R.P.T. from St. Louis
pianoman@inlink.com
"I am a better tuner now than  ever  before"

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> From: Kenneth W. Burton <kwburton@freenet.calgary.ab.ca>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: What is "Flagpoling?"
> Date: Sunday, December 28, 1997 6:58 AM
> 
> 
> 	Friends,
> 
> 	Perhaps enough has been said about flagpoling but I thought I
> might clarify a point or two.
> 	In spite of the fact that a tuning pin is made of good steel and
> is relatively thick, it still bends and twists under the approx. 165
pound
> pull of a piano string. Not much, mind you, but enough to affect the
> precision of tuning. So, as far as the pin is concerned, the goal for the
> tuner is to restore the bend and twist which the pin normally
experiences.
> If we fail to do this, the pin will do it later, under the influence of
> the vibrations caused by playing the piano, and the pitch of the string
> will fall.
> 	The tuner pushes, pulls or turns the pin, feeling for the position
> of ideal pin torsion and string tension. If he succeeds in finding that
> spot, then the pin and string are left in the most stable condition.
> 	We all know, however, that pin block tightness, v-bar friction,
> pin flexibility and string elasticity all conspire to make it very
> difficult to find that point of ideal pin torsion and string tension.
> 	We also know that we are often tempted to push or pull past that
> ideal spot to reach a certain pitch and we sometimes yield to that
> temptation. This is commonly known as "leaning the pin" or "flagpoling"
> and it results in unstable tuning because the perfect balance or torsion
> and tension has not been achieved.
> 	There is also a healthy use of Flagpoling. We all do it and it
> works if it is done carefully and not to extremes. If, after we have
> pulled the pitch a tad sharp, we push the pin to bring the pitch down to
> perfect and, at the same time, we lean the pin toward the speaking length
> of the string, this helps restore the proper twist and bend.
> 	Another healthy use of Flagpoling or Leaning the Pin occurs when
> you have extremely tight pins. When making the first clockwise pull on an
> upright, if you lean the pin away from the speaking length by pushing the
> hammer toward the pin block, you lift the pin away from the lower side of
> the hole and reduce the friction slightly. This helps to move the pin but
> you must be careful that, on the last move of the hammer, you exert
> pressure that will lean the pin toward the speaking length to make sure
> it is settled back against the side of the hole. When tuning a grand with
> the hammer in the 3 o'clock position, this leaning occurs automatically.
> 	In my book, Different Strokes, Hammer Techniques For Piano
> Technicians, there are descriptions of other uses of Leaning The
> Pin.(Shameless promotion!)
> 	Hope this helps.
> 
> 	Ken Burton "Doctor Piano" Calgary Alberta
>