At 10:59 -0800 4/3/09, David Love wrote: >Why do manufacturers harden capo bars... Do they? How? Cast iron is hard anyway. >...rather than cast (or grind) the underside of the strut flat, rout >out a groove to receive a steel rod of proper radius, shape and >hardness and insert it there where it could, when it's worn, be >easily changed and where the consistency would be more easily >controlled. Some makers do just that, but never using steel, which would be the very worst material to use. >Is there a compelling reason not to do it that way? The graphite in cast iron provides an excellent self-lubricating bridge. I'd guess it makes for less friction than brass and is less prone to marking. >Secondly, if I were to do that to a piano where I have some concerns >about the hardness and or consistency of the capo, what specific >material and diameter would be best to use for the rod insert? 1/8" leaded bronze or brass? JD
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