[pianotech] agraffe prep redux

[Amadeus Piano]

A little more off subject, but what about when just restringing an old
Chickering quarter grand.  Would you try to bevel those underside agraffes?
They're a bit difficult to get to when the plate is in.  Should I just use a
wire brush and clean them up as best I can? 

Thanks, Gary H. 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Love
Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 9:02 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] agraffe prep redux

A little off the original subject.  These are half agraffes I'm talking
about for which a q-tip is relatively useless because they're open on one
side and you won't be able to give a "gentle shove" and have them stay in
contact with the string bearing surface.  The recommendation I got from Del
was to us a small, fine rat tail file and bevel them carefully at a 45
degree angle on the speaking side.  Clean them up with a brass brush and
don't worry too much about the non speaking side, FWIW.  

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of William Monroe
Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 5:21 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] agraffe prep redux

Jude,

Like Paul, I find the Q-tip (when given a gentle shove) does well to take
the necessary shape when polishing.  I think the photos give a pretty good
example.

William R. Monroe


I like the idea of polishing the agraffe holes with Q-tips (and Paul's
photos microscopic images certainly made a nice demonstration), but I have
not been able to find any Q-tips where the diameter of the shank allowed me
to get in deep enough. As a result I still continue to floss with a very
high grit abrasive cord. Q-tip suggestions?

Jude Reveley, RPT