Yes I do, but only under certain circumstances. Paul Chick ----- Original Message ----- From: David Ilvedson <ilvey@jps.net> To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 11:24 PM Subject: Re: To tune or not to tune? > >I hope you don't do free estimates. > > I agree! Do any techs on the List give free estimates? > > David. > > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "pryan2" <pryan2@the-beach.net> > >To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > >Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 7:41 PM > >Subject: To tune or not to tune? > > > > > >> This week (and it's only Thursday) I have been called out to tune three > >> un-tunable (upright) pianos which the owners indicated on the phone > were > >> tunable, even though they were 80 to 100 years old. When I arrived at > >the > >> homes, the pianos were wrecks with the expected rust, corrosion, and > rot. > >> To these owners, a tuning meant a rebuild. In each case, I left without > >> tuning. How can I avoid this in the future? Is there a number of > >years-old > >> that you will not go out for a tuning? How do I weed out the tunable > >> pianos from the un-tunable pianos on the phone? > >> > >> Phil Ryan > >> Miami Beach, FL > >> > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos@hotmail.com> > >> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > >> Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 1:38 AM > >> Subject: Re: Pin fluids..was-- Bridge caps > >> > >> > >> > > >> > Jim: > >> > > >> > Would you then consider using varnish as driving fluid on a > restringing > >> job > >> > where you are reusing the old block? With what effect? > >> > > >> > David Love > >> > > >> > >From: JIMRPT@AOL.COM > >> > >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org > >> > >To: pianotech@ptg.org > >> > >Subject: Pin fluids..was-- Bridge caps > >> > >Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 01:00:58 EDT > >> > > > >> > > > >> > >In a message dated 4/03/2001 10:41:07 PM, Dale wrote: > >> > > > >> > ><<"I've wondered about driving fluids > >> > > > >> > >as well but have not used them.">> > >> > > > >> > >Dale a Cuba Libre ain't bad on a warm day and...... it sho makes > >working > >> > >less > >> > >painful! :-) > >> > > > >> > > Undoubtedly you will get several "opinions" in this thread so > here's > >> > >mine....OK? > >> > >A good pin driving aid will contain 3(?) qualities and these are: > >> > >1.) ease of use/application. > >> > >2.) consistency of results. > >> > >3.) aid in stringing effort. > >> > > > >> > > My favorite weapon of choice is Spar Varnish because it is: > >> > >1.) easy to use/apply. (little dab'll do you and too much won't > effect > >> long > >> > >term results. > >> > >2.) gives verrry consistent results. > >> > >3.) makes stringing sooo much easier (particuarly if you use a T > >handle > >> > >like > >> > >I do. > >> > > > >> > > The varnish acts as a sealer/lubricant while it is still wet and as > >a > >> > >sealer/ snap retardant when it is dry. Turning pins in a wet pinblock > >> > >treated > >> > >with varnish is aprox 1/4 to 1/3 easier than turning them when the > >block > >> is > >> > >dry. > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > <<"I'm using buldoc/stwy blocks in all > >> > > > >> > >stwys/Rebuilds and the pins are hard to drive and no matte how > >> consistently > >> > > > >> > >I drill I.E. same speed,pressure and air cooling there will always be > >> some > >> > > > >> > >tortional inconsistencies. That being said I mostly like how they > >> tune.">> > >> > > > >> > > The five ply blocks you are using are very good blocks...but like > >most > >> > >things they do have some drawbacks chief of which is what mayyyy be > >> termed > >> > >soft spotitis. > >> > > This happens when two or more layers of the pinblock have 'soft' > >spots > >> > >lined > >> > >up vertically. The result of this is that when you drill the holes > >they > >> > >will > >> > >be a trifle larger in the 'soft spots' then in the relatively > 'harder' > >> rest > >> > >of the block...........also these 'soft spots' will not hold a pin > >with > >> the > >> > >same force as will the 'harder' portions of the plank....this results > >in > >> > >your > >> > >"tortional inconsistencies'. Just the way things are with these > >> > >blocks...don't mean they are 'bad'. Short of hand picking ass'td size > >> pins > >> > >for preselected holes I don't know any cure for this symptom. > >> > > > >> > >In a 5 ply block with two soft spots together this "spotitis" will > >effect > >> > >aprox. 40% of the pin length...or if the first 4 layers are all that > >are > >> > >contacted it will effect aprox. 50% of the pin length....how much > this > >> will > >> > >effect the "inconsistencies" you are speaking of is relative to the > >rest > >> of > >> > >the block. > >> > > > >> > > If'n y'all likes the way dey tune, and all the other parameters of > >> > >stability, etc. are there, then keep on keepin on. > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > <<"My question is this. For those of you who are using maple > >blocks > >> and > >> > > > >> > >driving fluids ,do you think it affects tuning smoothness, changes > >> > >tortional > >> > > > >> > >values or is it just a way to make driving a pin easier. My > >> > >srtinger(Terry) > >> > > > >> > >is a little five ft. Italian gal and although plenty fiesty would > >> > >appreciate > >> > > > >> > >any help in the driving each new One ought pins into freshly bored > >> > >maple.:>> > >> > > > >> > > Varnish treated blocks definitely have fewer 'snappers' than do non > >> > >treated > >> > >blocks,.....in my experience. Driving in the pins is much easier and > >> > >setting > >> > >coils, applying tension and chipping are all easier by 'far' while > the > >> > >varnish is still at least damp. > >> > >1/0 pins??? Why do you use 1/0 pins? In my opinion 1/0 pins add a > >measure > >> > >of > >> > >flagpoling/twistyness that I don't like, but if there is a gooood > >reason > >> > >for > >> > >using them I might reconsider my thoughts here. > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > <<"Also if driving fluid changed slightly the pin torque and > >allowed > >> for > >> > > > >> > >smoother rendering that would be fine.">> > >> > > > >> > > Dale, treating or not treating the pins/pinblock has absolutely > >nothing > >> > >to > >> > >do with string rendering other than making the tuning pin easier to > >> > >manipulate. However that being said I will contradict myself and say > >that > >> > >having to fight the pin less will allow you to 'feel' the rendering > >much > >> > >better....or is that what you meant? > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > ><<"The finest tuning piano in the world > >> > > > >> > >is an old steinway thats never yet been restrung. You know the kind > >,well > >> > > > >> > >preserved and unadulterated. The pin torque is so even and the > tuning > >> ends > >> > > > >> > >up being so stable because the pin doesn't wrestle with the > >tuner!!!!">> > >> > > > >> > >Betcha a LARGE cup of coffee that this pinblock was treated with > >varnish > >> > >during stringing...wanna bet? :-) > >> > >My opinion. > >> > >Jim Bryant (FL) > >> > >p.s. Do a test for yourself....take a scrap piece of > pinblock....drill > >> > >three > >> > >holes... > >> > >drill one hole 17/64ths and two holes 1/4"..............(adjust for > >your > >> > >favorite sizing/feel).....in the 17/64 and first 1/4 > >> hole..........install > >> > >2/0 pins to the level where they would normally be after > chipping/coil > >> > >setting/tapping.......in the last 1/4 hole (for the test only) wet a > >> small > >> > >piece/wad of paper towel with spar varnish and push through the > >pinblock > >> > >with > >> > >a hammer shank...install the pin to the same level as the other two > >> pins(be > >> > >sure and mark the holes as to which is what:). Immediatetly try > >turning > >> > >the > >> > >pins starting with the 17/64 and ending with the treated > >pin.......wait > >a > >> > >few > >> > >hours and try turning the pins again....set the test aside for a week > >or > >> so > >> > >and then try the pins again...let us know what you find OK? > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > _________________________________________________________________ > >> > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com > >> > > >> > > >> > > >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC