Regulating Without Specs

[Dean May]

What an elegantly simply tool. Thanks for sharing. Do you have a patent or
can we make our own? :-)

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Erwinspiano at aol.com
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 11:11 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: Regulating Without Specs

 

  Hi Jon

  Nice work.

  I have been doing something similar and a bit simpler) but along the same
lines. (I'm simple).

 I've been making and selling  tool called the Action Ratio gauge. Picture
shown below.

      

  A 6  mm foot is mounted to the bottom of the weighted wooden block. The
chart on the back is used to instantly crunch the numbers you get when using
it. 

 

  How it works

  Simply set the Action ratio gauge on the keys, which should be close to
level. Then using a metric depth gauge I measure the hammer rise above the
neighboring hammer.  Take the distance & divide by 6 & voila.... a very
close action  ratio.

   IE if the hammer rises 34 mm higher than it's neighbor, divide that by 6
(the thickness of the foot)this equals a 5.67 ratio on the chart. Not bad.
I can work with this. 

  High numbers, say 6 & above, will always require a long 48 mm hammer
travel & a shallow dip.

 I.E. Baldwin's.In this case  I know I've got work to do

 Something in the 5.5 ratio range will usually be a 46 mm hammer travel &
.390 dip.  (Steinways/others) 

  Measuring the sharps is done in the same way & the ratio will always be
slightly different due to the key balance point & shorter leverage.

  The beauty of this gauge is that a tech can easily & quickly assess action
problems in front of clients eyes in minutes & can inform them why the
action is heavy/ light etc & the appropriate remedy. 

   I use the ratio information to determine which action parts I will choose
when rebuilding. 

  The Action ratio can be can be modified to improve function in essentially
3 ways.  Change the knuckle placement, move the capstan or ( These are the
most common fixes) the key balance point can be relocated if replacing the
keyset.

  Any numbers close to a 7 to will require new keys to truly make the action
work. AMHIK.

  High numbers equal short dip Long hammer travel.  Low numbers the
opposite.  High numbers (5.8 to 7 or more) require light hammers & lots of
key lead to balance the action.

   Ok now the real beauty is this. Low numbers (5 to 5.6sih) can tolerate
more hammer weight & some lead can be unloaded from the key thereby reducing
inertia. All pianist love this

  On another note the first thing I usually do is look at the leading.  If
there are lots of lead.  I already know the regulation & leading will be in
a place I wont' like

  I'm not a number cruncher so I needed this to be easier for me. 

  Regards

   Dale Erwin

  John writes

 Hello List,

I'm writing an article about regulating pianos when you don't have
specifications.  I'll paste in the simple nuts and bolts of it below.  I'd
appreciate your feedback.  I know there are some setup caveats and pitfalls,
and some other considerations, but rather than lay all of them out, I
thought I'd wait and hear from you guys about what you see as strong points,
weak points, yeah buts, and any other considerations.

 



 

 

Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations
4721 Parker rd
Modesto, Ca. 95357
Shop 209-577-8397
Web site http://www.Erwinspiano.com <http://www.erwinspiano.com/>  
Restoration & Sales of
Steinway & Sons & other fine pianos.
" Soundboards by Design"





  _____  

Who's never won? Biggest
<http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp0030000
0002548>  Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20080205/be84b5fc/attachment-0001.html 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 41803 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20080205/be84b5fc/attachment-0001.jpe