Restringing

Avery Todd avery@ev1.net
Mon, 23 Jun 2003 21:04:41 -0500


Greg,

I'd like to see a picture of it. Send it privately if you think that would
be better. Thanks.

Avery

At 08:21 PM 06/23/03 -0400, you wrote:

>I have a rather simple loop maker that I purchased from the late Bob 
>Russell Sr. It is both simple and easy to use. It produces predictable 
>clean coils every time but is not without the possibility of gaffe's if 
>your not paying attention to what you're doing. I'll give a brief 
>description of it's construction. The body of it is from about a 1 1/2" 
>hardwood dowel with a hole drilled through it longitudinally. In that hole 
>is placed a brass sleeve insert through which ultimately the wire will 
>pass on it's way to the looping end. There is another hole drilled through 
>it tangentially(?) which has a key pin ( I think) going all the way 
>through and protruding out each side to act as a handle to turn the dowel 
>around the string passing through it. At the business end is a small tack 
>or nail with a head driven in to one side of the brass sleeve. To use, all 
>one does is to pass the string through the sleeve and out the other side. 
>Using round jawed pliers make a loop in the string. Put the end of the 
>loop against and under the nail head and slowly rotate the tool making the 
>string end rotate around and thus giving you the coils. The only problem I 
>ever have with it is visualizing which direction to rotate the tool for 
>the desired outcome on the string. I like the tail to stop and rotate 
>downwards against the plate. FWIW, I hope this helps someone. If you need 
>a picture just yell.
>
>Greg Newell
>
>
>
>At 07:58 PM 6/23/2003, you wrote:
>
>>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w = 
>>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word">
>>Hi Dave,
>>You have to practice a bit, trying different tensions. At first I used to 
>>break or weaken the strings as well.
>>But now I find the loop maker works well.
>>It really is a tool that practice makes perfect. (Well almost) :-)
>>Regards,
>>John M. Ross
>>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
>><mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca>jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: <mailto:pdtek@mchsi.com>Dave Bunch
>>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech
>>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 8:36 PM
>>Subject: Re: Restringing
>>
>>As far as loop makers go, I would warn someone new to this to avoid the 
>>loop makers with the crank commonly seen in the catalogs. They are good 
>>for nothing but breaking wire. With just a little practice, one can make 
>>a first rate loop by hand using nothing more than a nail in a vise. This 
>>will work fine for the 99% of pianos that have just one or two looped strings.
>>
>>Dave Bunch
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: <mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net>Alan
>>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>'Pianotech'
>>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 11:28 AM
>>Subject: RE: Restringing
>>
>>Yes …
>>
>>Not a complete treatise, but a few thoughts.
>>
>>First time, it will take you close to three 8-days.
>>An experienced person can do it in about two days.
>>I don’t think it’s fair for people to pay for my “learning curves,” so I 
>>would bill the job based on, say, 18 hours.
>>Take the job. Learn and earn.
>>
>>Critical things to have, purchase, or make-your-own …
>>
>>1.       A pinblock jack
>>2.       Coil maker
>>3.       2½ lb sledge hammer (for fine tuning and watch repair)
>>4.       Real wire cutters, not pin nippers or light duty electrical “dikes”
>>5.       Heavy gloves or, better yet, glass-handler’s gloves
>>6.       Eye 
>>protection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many jobs 
>>call for eye protection: Restringing SCREAMS for it. Wear industrial eye 
>>protection, the kind that protects from the sides, 
>>too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>>7.       Band-Aids (Don’t make your own.)
>>
>>Helpful things to have …
>>
>>1.       A ½” drive variable speed electric drill with “pin removing bit” 
>>(see archives). ¼” drill will not do, doesn’t have enough torque, 
>>especially at slower speeds and you don’t want to spin the pins so fast 
>>that you set the piano on fire or, more likely, damage the holes.
>>2.       New set of pin collars (depending). New hitch pin punchings, 
>>felts, braid, etc. (depending)
>>3.       Tuning pin crank
>>4.       Loop maker
>>
>>Look up in the archives or read Reblitz, etc., about measuring strings, 
>>marking where string sizes change, etc.
>>
>>Examine the piano carefully before you start:
>>1.       Make sure the legs are secure and nothing is wobbly. 999/1000 
>>times this is no problem. The 1/1000th time, a disaster can ensue.
>>2.       Pull the lid hinge pins with the lid closed. Unless it is a very 
>>small piano, get the owner or someone to help you lift off the lid and 
>>put it in a safe place.
>>3.       Examine the pinblock and bridges very carefully. Discuss 
>>problems with owner. NOW is the time to make any repairs.
>>4.       Note any problems or anticipated problems. Write them down. Have 
>>the owner look at them with you and sign the paper acknowledging the 
>>problems. Again 1/1000, but you don’t want any arguments later. I would 
>>take a torque wrench and measure each pin—or at least a good sampling—as 
>>I made the first tension reduction turns of the pin to make sure you spot 
>>any “patterns” suggesting block damage or any pin holes that might need a 
>>little epoxy, etc. Easier to do it now than to have to remove pins later.
>>
>>Have fun.
>>
>>Alan R. Barnard
>>Salem, MO
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On 
>>Behalf Of Richard Strang
>>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 10:14 AM
>>To: pianotech (E-mail)
>>Subject: Restringing
>>
>>Hello, all,
>>     Piano restringing has always been a little out of my line of work, 
>> as I do not have a shop. However, I have a good customer that is 
>> requesting me to restring his grand on site, and I'm debating on whether 
>> I should accept the job or not. Any advice?
>>
>>Richard
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>
>Greg Newell
>Greg's piano Forté
>mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>---
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