Mystery Tool(s) - Sunday

[David Ilvedson]

Sheesh, and I was just going to guess that very thing...darn!  ;-]

David I.



----- Original message ---------------------------------------->
From: Joseph Garrett <joegarrett@earthlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Received: Sun, 25 Aug 2002 10:21:42 -0700
Subject: Mystery Tool(s) - Sunday

>Well, it's Sunday. And, as I promised the answer is coming.
>First, a little background. (And, I'm hoping this gets through, as I've sent
>several clues, etc., that didn't seem to get to the "Digest"...selective
>editing on someone's part?) <G>
>Part of rebuilding is the cosmetics, ie make it pretty and take care of the
>details. Part of that is the agraffes. I must say to Roger, you were close.
><G> When I do a restringing, one of the most important things is string
>termination. Agraffes are a major part of this. Many will replace the
>agraffes with new ones. I have not found the new ones to be any more
>superior to the existing ones, when they are properly redone. Hence, the
>"Mystery Tool(s).
>First, I dip the agraffes in paint stripper to get the overspray, etc., off.
>Next, is a bath in "Tarnex" with a good scrubbing, rinsing and drying. The
>next procedure involves buffing the agraffes to a beautiful golden shine.
>That is what the "Mystery Tool(s)" are for. Holding the agraffes between
>fingers, to buff, is difficult, painful and down-right annoying. In the
>evolution of this tool, we tried making handles out of pinblock material
>with snug holes to hold the threaded stem of the agraffe. These worked, but
>wore out quickly. I found myself making numerous "handles" for buffing. Time
>waster!
>So, (if you've been following the thread), I made them out of bolts. Turned
>them on my drill press to the proper dimension and threaded them for the
>proper thread/diameter agraffe(s).
>They really work well and save time. (not to mention lessen the pain and
>frustration of chasing errant agraffes propelled by the buffer, to god knows
>where in the shop!)
>I will send a scan of each of the tools in their total configuration after
>this message. (I'm going to wait until I see this on the Digest)
>So, no one won the "used pinblock of their choice", but I enjoyed myself,
>tantalizing you all. <G> Please feel free to copy these tools for your
>personal use. (If I see one in a catalog, I will sue them! I've already been
>ripped off by our "suppliers" copying something of mine!)
>I hope I haven't annoyed too many with this bit of tom-foolery.
>Best Regards,
>Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)

>Been There, Didn't Like It, So I'm Here To Stay! [G}