Whacking

[romanop@attglobal.net]

David,
Michael Travis has developed a jig that is made of PVC tubing. One piece is
cut at the bottom and flared so that it fits nicely over the key. Then a
slightly smaller tube fitted with the eight ounce weight and padded with a
rubber mute large end down fits inside the first. There is a line marked at
eight inches above the key. The pitch is measured and then the interior tube
is lifted to the line and dropped three times. The pitch is checked again
and must not change by more than one cent (I believe). Personally, I don't
use quite that much force when setting the string but was still able to
score 98 on stability (didn't pass though, need to work on my temperament).

Phil Romano
Myrtle Beach, SC

----- Original Message -----
From: "Avery Todd" <avery@ev1.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2001 2:15 PM
Subject: Re: Whacking


> David,
>
> There's a description of a "jig" type of thing that can be made for this
> purpose.
> When I became the CTE here in Houston, I had Ron Sanford make one for
> me according to the directions in the testing information book.
>
> That info is at the school and I'm not but if no one else posts it in the
> meantime,
> I can probably get it to you tomorrow. I need to go tune one Sunday
anyway.
> :-(
>
> I agree with Phil. It DOES give a considerable whack. :-)
>
> Avery
>
> At 08:24 AM 02/12/01 -0800, you wrote:
> >The 8 oz weight is in the shape/form of what?  I believe the 8 oz weight
> >is used as a demonstration for the amount of force to use with the
testers
> >hand?  I have helped give the test a few times but I don't remember
anyone
> >dropping 8 oz. weights on the keys...
> >
> >David I.
> >
> >*********** REPLY SEPARATOR  ***********
> >
> >On 2/12/01 at 9:06 AM romanop@attglobal.net wrote:
> >
> > >In the PTG tuning exam, stability is checked by dropping an eight ounce
> > >weight from six inches above the key and then checking to see that the
> > >pitch has not changed. It is a considerable "whack".
> > >
> > >Phil Romano
> > >Myrtle Beach, SC
> > >
> > >
> > >----- Original Message -----
> > >From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey@jps.net>
> > >To: "pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > >Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2001 9:17 PM
> > >Subject: Re: Whacking
> > >
> > >
> > >> The PTG Tuning test has a technique to test the stability of the
unison
> > >portion of the test.  Maybe someone can post that exact info.  It is
not
> > >whacking in any way...Tuning stability is a combination of good hammer
> > >technique and an adequate force to insure that a portion of the string
> > >segments isn't excessively different than other segments.  Equalizing
of
> > >the
> > >segments is apparently not possible...Hitting the keys as hard as you
can
> > >until the note won't drift means a total lack of hammer technique.  I
do
> > >not
> > >whack anymore and my tunings stand up to concertos...The archives have
lots
> > >of stuff on this subject.
> > >>
> > >> David I.
>