Dunce of the Year

[Vanderhoofven]

List,

Here is my "Dunce of the Year" contribution!

Last month I replaced key bushings on both rails of a Steinway grand from 
the 1930's.  I was so proud of myself, because I had measured the balance 
rail key pins to choose the correct size of caul.  On this piano, the 
balance rail keypins are larger than the front rail keypins, and like a 
dunce, I used the same set of cauls for both sets of bushings.  When I 
reinstalled the keys, the balance rail key bushings were just right, but 
there was about .030" of play at the front of the key.  Needless to say, I 
redid the front rail keybushings using the correct cauls, and corrected the 
problem.  But it took half a day to redo the keybushings.  An extra 30 
seconds of time measuring the front keypins could have saved me 4 hours of 
working time.   What is that old saying... ?  "Measure twice, cut once..."

Please submit your entries for the Dunce of the Year contest!

Sincerely,

David A. Vanderhoofven
Joplin, MO


At 06:30 AM 3/10/02, Avery Todd wrote:
>List,
>
>Well, I'm admitting it! I made a really stupid mistake
>today. I'm only telling this to remind others of the
>possibility.