>Not in a Baldwin! Is it the multi-laminated pinblock that makes rendering >of the Baldwin pin such a pain? > >David I. Seems to be, but some of Baldwin pins get less jumpy with time too. When installing a high density pinblock (I use Delignit, but Falconwood users have verified this too), The pins are sometimes a little snappy through the first chipping and the next two tunings. By the time the piano leaves the shop, the pin movement smoothes out. I think it's a matter of turning the pins enough to fill up the rough cut threads with wood. That's the ideal situation, but the wrong contaminant on the pin will make it jumpy forever. Rosin, talc, chalk, or varnish - anything that pre-fills the threads somewhat, works fine. So will a clean pin, but it won't turn as smoothly as soon after installation. The problem with the clean pin is how it's handled by grubby fingers during installation. Any hand lotion, sweat, nose grease (or skin oils from any other place the stringer may scratch during the course...), or lunch residue will make the pin much more snappy, and less likely to smooth out with time. The denser the block, the less forgiving it is of contamination, and the only block I know of that's denser than Baldwin's was in some of the old Wurlitzers. Anyway, that's how my experience goes. Ron N
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