[pianotech] Scary Experience

[Ron Nossaman]

Well, it's not that the pins are too tight. Even pins that are 
relatively easy to turn will do this.

It's not that the pins are jammed against the plate. I dare 
you to find a new Steinway that doesn't have pins bearing hard 
against the plate and though they feel different to tune, they 
don't snap and crack like Baldwins.

It's like Tom said, the sliding friction is too much lower 
than the static friction. It's the fault of the pinblock 
material Baldwin uses. The only thing I've ever heard of 
coming anywhere near working as a field repair was Vince 
Mrykalo's use of Protek CLP out of last ditch desperation in 
an otherwise untunable block. Last I heard, it continues to work.

Ron N