Accurate cutting strips of cloth for D

[Michael Gamble]

Yes, David I, I too dream of a tool which can be adjusted to cut such strips
as I now need, and strips of other dimensions for other purposes. I wonder
if Bill Spurlock can dream up something? I've watched them at Fletcher &
Newmans' (many years agone when they were in Covent Garden) cutting these
strips BY EYE from a bolt of material on a large work bench with a very
sharp knife. That demands a practiced eye methinks!
Regards
Michael G.(UK)

-----Original Message-----
From: David Ilvedson [mailto:ilvey@sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: 18 September 2005 17:56
To: staff@smithpiano.com; pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: RE: Accurate cutting strips of cloth for D

Now what if you had a piece of plastic that a slot in it for the roller
knife to ride in.   The cloth would be trapped under a larger area and would
be less likely to move...?
Just some Sunday morning dreaming....

David I.



----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Brad Smith" <staff@smithpiano.com>
To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
Received: 9/18/2005 5:03:12 AM
Subject: RE: Accurate cutting strips of cloth for D


>Hi Michael,
>I use the same setup, but not just a straight edge.
>I mark a line with a pen for my cut.
>Then, I put a straight-edged, clear, 1/8" thick plastic sheet over top of
the strip that I'm 
>about to cut.
>So, the skinny strip that I want, is now trapped under the plastic, and my
target cutting 
>line is right on the edge of the plastic.
>Keep good pressure, roll your cutter along your line at the edge of the
plastic.
>You'll find that you favor one side of the cutter, because it allows you a
better view of 
>how the blade is matching
>against the straight edge.  TaDA....You have a nicely cut piece.  Works for
buckskin 
>too, when recovering backchecks.
>If you go a little wide of the line, no problem, this method allows you to
make another 
>pass to trim an existing piece of material
>if needed.   The other way (with the desired felt strip sticking out from
under your straight 
>edge)
>gives you no room for error.  Don't be cheap about using a nice new sharp
blade, too.

>Another idea:  I haven't needed to do this, but I have thought about making
a thin 
>straight cut in the plastic, which would act as a
>blade guide for the roller blade. That would allow even better control, I
imagine.

>The plastic can be found at craft stores, and some home improvement stores.
>It's too stiff to use for bridge patterns, but is an excellent indexing
tool for rebuilding, 
>pinblock location, etc.
>For example, I made a hammer centering jig with it, that allowed me to
quickly position 
>and mark the strike point on new hammers
>before installation. And, I used it to do careful indexing of fallboard
hardware pivot point, 
>when installing one of those fallboard
>decelerators (See http://www.pianofortesupply.com/fallboarddeceler.html )
in a grand 
>piano.
>The pivot point is crucial, and the plastic allows me to get an excellent
reference for 
>where to drill a new hole in the side of a
>perfectly good piano.  :-)


>Best regards,
>Brad Smith, RPT
>www.smithpiano.com


>  -----Original Message-----
>From: Michael Gamble [mailto:michael@gambles.fsnet.co.uk]
>Sent: Sunday, September 18, 2005 3:37 AM
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: Re: Accurate cutting strips of cloth for Damper backing
>Hello List
>Anyone got any bright ideas on how to cut cloth (or felt) in really
parallel
>strips and at a specific width for use on damper backing? The original was
>indeed cloth, not felt, the weave is plain to see at the sides. I have a
>"roller" type knife, one of those rubbery green mats (a large one) marked
>out in small squares, and a long straight-edge used for key-levelling. The
>problem is to stop the felt from shifting under the knife! (don't we all?)
>Regards
>Michael G.(UK)




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