Not such a stupid question

[Frank Weston]

List and Mike,

Having just experimented with restringing a harpsichord, I feel somewhat
qualified to comment on this subject.

1.  Forget neatness.  No tight, precisely aligned coils.

2.  Grab about 6 inches of wire, start on the flat and wind about six coil
around the pin clockwise.

3.  Hold this coil, take the wire leading to the hitchpin, and wind it
counterclockwise over the coil already on the pin.  Wire must cross over
itself or it won't hold.  Wind on about six coils.

4.  Allow the wire to untwist.

5.  Start over because the whole thing explodes in your face when you
release a little tension.

6.  Get drill, drill hole in pin, then string in your usual fashion.

Frank Weston

----------
> From: Michael Jorgensen <Michael.Jorgensen@cmich.edu>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Not such a stupid question
> Date: Friday, April 10, 1998 5:21 AM
> 
> Anne Beetem wrote:
> > 
> > Dear all,
> >   Yes the harpsichord pins are not threaded (except in some
> > revival era instruments), no drilled hole and becket (we have our
clever
> > ways to get the wire to hold), and yes, the pins are tapered.
> 
> Hi Anne,
>     Perhaps sometime you'll elaborate on techniques for getting wire to
> hold on hole-less tuning pins?  I'll bet I'm not the only one who's
> agonized over those.
> -Mike Jorgensen