Broken Strings

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Anson,
You did not break the string. Repeat after me, YOU DID NOT BREAK THE STRING!
<G>
Take note of the deflection angle of the string as the unwound end renders over the top bridge on its way to the tuning pin. There are one or two spinet models that have up to a 45% deflection here. These are strings ready to snap at the slightest addition of pressure.
Also take note that on these models,  often the tuning pin is driven in so far that the wire is starting to ride over itself at the coil. Another recipe for string breakage.
When you see this in an instrument I do two things. A drop of Goose Juice at the pin ( not the tuning pin ) where the string deflects, and warn the customer that string breakage is posible and explain that you are doing everything posible to avoid breakage.

Joe Goss RPT
Mother Goose Tools
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Anson Kao 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 10:26 AM
  Subject: Broken Strings


  Hello Everyone;

  I need to do my first string repairs ever.  Fun!  I have 3 broken bass strings, broken very close to the tuning pin.  Yes... I broke them myself.  Spinet, hadn't been tuned for 20+ years, didn't seem to be rusty and I tuned flat first before raising the pitch (about an entire semitone flat!) so I'm not sure if I could have avoided the break... 

  Anyhow, I figure I should "splice" the old strings.  Since the "splice" would be where the string isn't "live", is it necessary I use the identical thickness of wire?  I am not planning to go full time anytime soon and probably won't have much use for 3 roles of wire.  I've also heard about moist fingers causing rust.  Do you wear gloves when handling wire? 

  Also if anyone is in the Toronto area could you refer me to a store where I can buy supplies.  I have been purchasing everything online so far and the shipping wait times make it hard for me to sleep at night.

  Appreciate all input, thanks all!

  Anson
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