too much "pounding!"

[Paul]

John
I vaguely remember some articles in the PTJ about a new "patented" style
tuning pin that had the thread diameter the same but the coil section of the
pin was turned a little undersize so that the rotation of the pin would wind
less string and thus make adjusting the string to pitch an easier task I
don't recall what year those articles ran, and I don't recall ever seeing
those pins on the market. I've some years of experience in machining metal
and steel can be formulated to be very tough, so torquing could be virtually
eliminated. But you may have a pin so tough it is too hard to machine
(manufacture) and/or expensive. My experience with the Asian
pianos-especially the new ones- is like yours, but I find that generally
after a few years and tunings they lose some of that springy feeling.

Paul Chick
----- Original Message -----
From: John M. Formsma <jformsma@dixie-net.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 10:19 PM
Subject: RE: too much "pounding!"


> Marcel,
>
> <<The hardest part of tuning I find is the guessing concerning the
twisting
> of the tuning pins. I find that Asian pianos in general have smaller
tuning
> pins than american made pianos. I also wonder if the steel used for pins
> might
> be a little softer. On some instruments, I have a hard time turning the
> pins.
> Now don't get me wrong, I'm strong enough to turn them, but the pitch will
> move
> " A LOT" before the pin actually turns in the block. For me this is the
> hardest
> thing to try to control. I wonder if there is a relationship between pin
> size
> +metal hardness and torque in the block. To me, softer or smaller pins
would
> benefit less torque.>>
>
> I have been told that since the tuning pins are smaller (1/0), they are
more
> prone to flagpole. Less diameter = more flex. I have the same problem with
> some of the Asian pianos I tune. Finding the right moves for these pianos
is
> difficult, but I have resolved that I can only do my best. If I do my
best,
> then I move on, and don't worry about inherent problems too much. For
these
> pianos, I use a smooth method, and just wait for the pin to move the
tiniest
> bit. After that, the string needs to be set, and on to the next one.
>
> John Formsma
> Blue Mountain, MS
>