[pianotech] Center (balance) rail pins

[David Ilvedson]

A nailset works well...glad I was actually able offer some help...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Chuck Behm" <behmpiano at gmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Received: 11/10/2009 4:34:27 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Center (balance) rail pins


>>Chuck...center rail?   Balance rail key pins?   You can hammer those out
>from below...but that must not be what you're talking about?<

>Aha! Thanks, David for helping me see the obvious. I've tried pulling them
>out from the top with vise grips, and twisting them back and forth. If
>they're tight, however, this doesn't work very well and I'm always afraid of
>damaging the hole. I never thought to turn the keyframe upside down and
>simply tap the pins out. I'm getting too old for creative thinking,
>apparently.
>Usually I polish the pins without removing them. This piano, however, sat in
>a factory for several decades, however, and the mice who lived there treated
>the pins like tiny fire hydrants. And there were a lot of mice, let me tell
>you. Anyway, the pins are corroded up the wazoo, so there's no point of
>trying to simply polish them. I'll tap them out, and replace with new.
>Thanks again.  Chuck