center pin reamers, homemade

[JElving@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-05-11 16:26:18 EDT, Richard Moody writes:

<< Wonder how they do it Renner? >>

Richard -

As I understand it, Steinway has for a long time had straight reamers and
burnishers. The only problem is that they cost an arm and a leg compared to
the Mannino Specialty Tool Company {:-)>  version. (Current Steinway catalog
lists 4 different sizes at $15.00 a piece!)

Now then, if you use the tapered reamer and burnisher, after you have
repinned and it feels right, try to imobilize the flange against a table top
or the like and check the amount of sideways movement in the hammer. You will
notice that even though the hammer has the right amount of friction (4-7
swings) that it will wobble much more than we would like. This, of course,
causes the most damage on the hammer flanges as they have more length and
weight to make it wobble. Then the hammer doesn't always strike the string
the same place on the hammer strike point each time, depending on how much it
moves from side-to-side.

Try the straight reamers and burnishers. You will like the results much
better, and your pinning will take much less time and be much more
consistant.