popsicle stick engineering

[David Love]

That's pretty good.  I use a cut-off capstan screwed into a piece of that
divider material that comes in a Renner shank box cut to about 1 inch in
length and the width of the key stick.  I cut the capstan to the approximate
length that I will need for that action (since they vary) and the thickness
of the divider material gives me some wiggle room.  I use a piece of double
stick tape to adhere the piece of wood to the key top while I'm moving it
around until I get the regulation or weight that I want.  When I get it
right I remove the key and measure the key ratio Stanwood style.  Then I
test a couple more at different points in the key frame to see if the key
ratio will be consistent through the set (sometimes it's not for various
reasons).  The only benefit to this over yours is that I'm not indexing off
the original capstan in case there's an inconsistency in the previous
drilling.  Rather, I'm looking for optimization and then determining if I
can use that same position determined by the key ratio throughout.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Kent Swafford
Sent: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 7:21 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: popsicle stick engineering

Hey,

What do you good people use to determine how far capstans need to be  
moved? (I know how to determine when the ratio is correct.) I mean  
how do you physically measure how far the capstan has been moved?

This is two sticks that slide against each other held together by  
heat-shrink tubing. The stud at left locates the existing capstan  
hole -- and the original capstan position when the sticks are  
aligned. The upper stick moves the faux capstan (which is also  
adjustable up and down, threads packed with teflon tape). The offset  
between sticks on the right can be measured and accurately represents  
the distance the capstan has been moved.

Ballast could be added to duplicate the front weight of the key with  
its original capstan.

So, what _should_ I be doing?   8^)


Kent