Tuning Hammer Technique and Staibilty Question

[Michael Spalding]

Robert,

In addition to all the great advice you've already received, I suggest getting a copy of Different Strokes by Ken Burton.  Book-length version of Paul's excellent discussion.  Excellent presentation of the behavior of the tuning pin in the block, and also gets into what's hapening with string rendering at the various friction points.  You will run into many different combinations of smooth/jumpy/easy/hard at both tuning pin and duplex, each requiring a different stroke, and Ken covers them all.  Published by Potter Press,  may also be available from PTG website?

Mike


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Robert Finley 
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 3/30/2006 12:07:31 AM 
Subject: Tuning Hammer Technique and Staibilty Question


I would like to ask a question about how the tuning hammer should be used to achieve a stable and accurate tuning. I understand that one has to turn the tuning pin with the hammer so that the string is slightly above pitch, and then ease it back down into position, presumably to eliminate any self-twisting of the pin that could occur afterwards, causing the string to go out of tune. I guess this is because the tuning pin is flexible and the twisting at the bottom of the pin where it is seated in the pin block lags the twisting at the top of the pin over which the tuning hammer is placed. 

My question is, how much should one tune the string above pitch before easing the pin back down? Should it be a few cents, cycles or what? I find it interesting that the tuning pin is that flexible because it seems to be made of rigid steel. I would expect the twisting effect of something that rigid to be minute, but enough to cause a string to go out of tune if the incorrect hammer technique is used. I have found that on my own piano, I can turn the tuning hammer a noticeable amount without a change in pitch, until I reach a point where it does start to change. 

Thank you for your advice. 

Robert Finley
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