[pianotech] Kimball Console Action Holddown Screws

[John Ross]

I thought I had read that the heads were slightly damaged.
But then again, I have had mis-thoughts before. :-(
Sometimes, I have just managed to get a damaged screw out, and it goes back 
in fine, because, I am bearing against, the undamaged part of the screw. I 
am thinking of mainly Phillips. But the next guy/gal might have a problem, 
trying to remove them.
Naturally, if the head were undamaged, I would lubricate and replace. 
Sometimes a damaged head can be made better with a hacksaw or file.
John Ross,
Windsor, Nova Scotia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Nossaman" <rnossaman at cox.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 9:04 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Kimball Console Action Holddown Screws


John Ross wrote:
> *If you or someone else has damaged the heads of the screws, don't
> compound the problem, by using the same screws.*
> *Install new ones, of a type and size, which will lessen the problem in
> the future.*


I don't think that I've ever had to pull one of these actions
twice. I lube the original screws pretty thoroughly, drive
them back in by HAND (doing no more damage spinning a bit in
the head), and presume that the next guy that pulls the action
in another twenty years or so will benefit from the lubricated
screws. What I won't do is carry replacements for the once
every five year time this comes up, nor make a $75 trip to the
hardware store, killing an hour, to replace them with
something no better functionally than was there. Just make it
possible to get the damned things in and out without further
trashing them (if you can get them out in the first place),
and you've rendered appropriate service to the customer.

Ron N