[pianotech] Tight Tuning Pins

[Jeff Deutschle]

John:

Do you use more of a jerk or more of a smooth pull style?

I have never felt a need for a stiffer hammer. It seems that there is so
much spring to the pin (otherwise how could the center of the stability
"dip" be found) that any spring in the hammer would not be significant.

On Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 11:16 AM, John Formsma <formsma at gmail.com> wrote:

>  On Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 7:05 AM, Jeff Deutschle <oaronshoulder at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>>  To move a tight pin a small amount, I prefer a heavy hammer. I use the
>> Hale speed hammer that weighs over 2 pounds and is very economical if you
>> want to give it a try. Or as a test you can wrap a 1 pound roll of solder
>> around a conventional hammer to see if you like the heft. Yes it is heavier
>> to move from pin to pin, but since I use a jerking style, there is less
>> strain when moving the pin. I don't see an advantage of using a stiffer
>> hammer when using a jerking style.
>>
>
> I do think having more mass may be helpful when using a jerk or impact
> technique.  I have a Hale speed lever, but haven't used it in years.  It's
> way too heavy for my regular use.
> The lever stiffness is also important, though.  I recently used an old Hale
> extension lever that I keep in the shop for restringing (and the fact that I
> have problems throwing stuff away <g>) on a piano with tight pins.  (A piano
> that Ron Nossaman did for my mom -- tight pins, but very controllable. The
> Hale was more available right then, and I just needed to touch up one
> string.) It is absolutely no match for the stiffness of the Fujan lever.
>  I've tuned hundreds of pianos with the Fujan, and several hundred with a
> Jahn before that, and several hundred with a Hale before that.  Each lever
> "upgrade" has been a benefit.  Yes, I could still tune well with that old
> Hale, but I wouldn't want to, especially on those pins.
>
> As an aside, I've been thinking of modifying the Fujan to add a bit more
> weight to the ball end, just to see if it improves the jerk method of
> tuning. It was on my list of things to get done before year's end.  Haven't
> done it yet, so maybe by this year's end? <G>
>
> --
> JF
>



-- 
Regards,
Jeff Deutschle

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