This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Just be sure not to let the torch singe your hair!! (Couldn't resist! Same as the wrest pin/tuning pin, I'm sure you know that, across the pond, a torch is a stick with fire on the end!) _____ From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Michael Gamble Sent: Monday, October 03, 2005 12:41 PM To: Piannaman@aol.com; pianotech@ptg.org Subject: RE: some days you get what you ask for Yes, Dave, That was some day for you. I always try to repair broken bass strings whenever possible, even if it means cutting back the windings on the speaking length and making my gnott there. I find it works for maybe the knot replaces the missing mass of copper. I did that on one-of-a-pair of bass strings in an old Bluthner upright (vertical) and there was no mis-match - isn't that something? As for treble pairs - again I try repair by "pulling it round". Of course this can only be done if the break occurs at the wrest pin (sorry, tuning pin). I keep the string on the hitch by using a mini vise-clamp or even a surgical clamp (Joe G <G> gave it another name, but I've forgotten). My light frequently comes from a torch held in the teeth! Yummy! Regards from the failing light of a cloudy evening in The Village. Michael G.(UK) _____ From: Piannaman@aol.com [mailto:Piannaman@aol.com] Sent: 03 October 2005 05:40 To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: some days you get what you ask for List, Friday was certainly an interesting day on the job. First piano was an old Erhard upright, a nice old box made in 1919, pretty good shape. It had a broken high treble string on it, which I'd been aware of, and I replaced it no problem. Next piano, Acrosonic, circa 1950s. Pitch raise, twang, G#2 wound bicord snapped. A perfect candidate for one of the universal bass strings a lug around. As usual, spinning off excess copper was the most time consuming part of this job. Again, no real problem. I was thinking about how much I've improved in various repairs, thanks to many tips gleaned from this list and elsewhere in the PTG. This type of repair was once something I dreaded, now it's just something I do in the line of duty. "But," I told myself, "don't get cocky. How long's it been since you've replaced a long wire in an understrung section of a piano?" It had been awhile. Which brings me to the next piano: Steinway, a regular client, a nemesis piano that always finds a way to lengthen the appointment beyond an acceptable length. A 1915 or so M re-whatevered badly a couple of decades ago. I was hoping for the best, but it was the usual 8-10 cent late-summer pitch raise. No problem, at least until I got to A3. Twang. The A#3-A3 wire snapped. Went to the car, got stringing stuff including tube to get string onto hitch pin. In the failing light of the day, I got the job done, but time would have been saved had I brought in my shop light so I could see better to route the wire through the bridge pins. The upside: 3 strings on the day, no bloody finger tips. The weirdness: Haven't had a string break in a few months. Why did they all gang up on me on one day??? Tip #1: putting some tension on the wire makes it MUCH easier to get the string placed properly around the bridge pins in the understrung areas. Tip #2: Lighting is a good thing when doing this sort of job! Thanks for reading, Dave Stahl ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/05/0e/0c/34/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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