[pianotech] Broken Tuning Pin

[Isaac Sadigursky]

Hi,Barbara !
This can be a doable repair.... Check Pianotek Catalog for Broken  
Screw Extractor-tubular type...They sell appropriate diameter-size for  
Tuning pin removal,page d-30,part #BSE-2,3/8" dia
.After drilling AROUND the pin,Enlarged hole will have to be PLUGGED  
with 1/2"Pin block Plug and re-drilled.... I would be on the alert for  
other pins possible breakage in the future..When you get the described  
tool-practice the repair on old piece of pinblock material..This  
method works,I had done it a few times..Good luck... Isaac  
Sadigursky,RPTLos Angeles cjhapter...
On Oct 1, 2009, at 6:45 PM, barbara at pitchperfectpianos.com wrote:

> Hello list,
>
> I have a small, rural church that has a Kimball Artist Console. They  
> had a piano tuner restring the bass notes some 6 or more years ago  
> with super tight oversized pins. I can barely budge these pins to  
> tune. Anyway, the tuner happened to break off one of the pins during  
> installation and just left it that way, never bothering to come back  
> and service the piano afterwards.
>
> The church has now been a good customer of mine for 4 years. But  
> every time I go to tune the Kimball, the gentleman always asks me if  
> there is anything to be done about the broken pin.
>
> It is broken off too far that a tuning pin extractor will not fit on  
> it, and there is no way a pair of vice grips will grab hold either.  
> I've read that you can drill through the pinblock to fish out the  
> pin from a side angle, but both the church and I are not too keen on  
> the idea.
>
> As you can see from the picture, I've pulled the string over and put  
> a different damper on it so that the string does dampen properly.  
> I'm not really planning on doing the repair as the piano is what it  
> is and the small church is content with it. But mainly, both my  
> customer and I are curious as to if there is anything that can be  
> done at all.  Thanks!
>
> Barbara Nobbe, RPT
> Pitch Perfect
> 859-489-4793
> barbara at pitchperfectpianos.com<IMG00176.jpg>