[pianotech] plate lags, (was persistent customer)

[Geoff Sykes]

Since this point it a remnant from my original post I feel comfortable
contributing my two cents. Personally, whenever I get called to service a
piano for the first time I will automatically check and tighten the plate
perimeter bolts and the pin block bolts. I then make note of it in my
records and generally don't give them a second thought on subsequent visits.
Every couple of years I check them again, and if they need tightening, I
tighten them. Weather/humidity causes wood to swell and shrink. Over time
any screws that are imbedded in that wood will work themselves loose as a
result of this phenomena. Keeping them tight all the time is not so
important as making sure that they are tight enough over the long haul. 
 
-- G



• Geoff Sykes, RPT
• 626-799-7545
• www.ivories52.com <http://www.ivories52.com/>  

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of A440A at aol.com
Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 8:44 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] plate lags, (was persistent customer)



In a message dated 12/29/08 10:30:58 AM, rnossaman at cox.net writes:


> Ron, next time you fine tune a piano snug up the "plate lags" as you call
> them after you are done--and then tell me it doesn't affect stability.

And if you leave them the heck alone, it doesn't, which is the
point.



Greetings, 
   It is worth noting here that the plate bolts on most pianos will be loose
in the winter/dry period.  If you continually tighten them, they will
continue to crush wood fibers during the next humid season, and the
following winter, they will be loose again.  So, if you tighten them,
continually, every winter, it will only be a matter of time before you go a
full 360 degrees, effectively stripping the threads in the wood.  They
should only be tightened in the summer, or, if your first visit is in the
winter, give them a light snug,  but don't really torque them in. 
  this doesn't apply to the Baldwin style, since they are anchored , via
metal threads, against the iron of the plate. 
regards, 

Ed Foote RPT
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html



**************
One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, Gmail, and Yahoo
Mail. Try it now.
(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000
025) 

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.200 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1868 - Release Date: 12/29/2008
10:48 AM


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com 
Version: 8.0.200 / Virus Database: 270.10.1/1868 - Release Date: 12/29/2008
10:48 AM

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20081229/fa47718a/attachment.html>