Using becket breaker?

[Howard S. Rosen]

Hi Devlon,

I agree completely with Jim Bryant's response and was particularly glad to
read his remark about leaning the tool in a way that it hugs the tuning pin
where the becket is. (misery loves company).  I experienced the same
problem and quickly learned to handle the tool the way Jim described.
Otherwise, when you hit the tool it can ride over the becket, fail to break
it and cause it to stick over the coil. This is very frustrating, loses
time and is a pain. 

Howard S. Rosen, RPT
Boynton Beach, Florida 

----------
> From: PNOTNR <PNOTNR@aol.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Using becket breaker?
> Date: Tuesday, January 27, 1998 10:24 AM
> 
> In a message dated 98-01-27 09:59:42 EST, you write:
> 
> << The recent talk about restringing has got me  thinking about a becket
> breaker
>  that I have, but never used.  I am used to lowering string tension
before
>  restringing in the "usual way,  but have never used this tool out of
fear of
>  not knowing exactly how to use it.  No one in the area uses one and I've
> never
>  read anywhere the proper method of using it, hence it has never been
used.  I
>  would like to know things such as:
>  1. Do you lower string tension before using it?
>               Yes, (and this gives you an opportunity to get all the
beckets
> lined up so that you can move the tool from pin to pin quickly)  You have
to
> lean the cutting edge into the becket at a slight angle or else the tool
has
> an annoying tendency to slide down over the coil and bind up.
>        
>  2. Is there a particular string breaking sequence?
>                 No, whatever is easiest for you.
>                
>  3. Any dangers to using this system?
>                  Little danger if the tension is lowered.  You are
breaking
> the becket, but the coils stay on the pin until you lift them off, so you
> don't have wires flying around.
>  
>  Any advice greatly appreciated from you veteran restringers!
>  
>  Devlon
>  Nashville Chapter >>