I used to do that same method but I would consistently forget to reload after repairing a string, so I went back to carrying 3lb reels. I don't travel by motorcycle so its not an issue. A few years back the Journal published an article about streamlined kits, they interviewed a number of New York City technicians who travel by subway. There were some good ideas in that article. David Weiss From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Terry Farrell Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 11:26 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: [pianotech] String Kit - Traveling Light I ride my motorcycle to most of my service appointments. I like to have all the tools and supplies I might need, so I've worked at making my tool boxes as small and as light as possible. One thing I've done recently is to make up a minimal string kit. The kit consists of plain wire strings from 0.030" to 0.043" that are long enough for up to a 7-foot piano. I don't service many nine-footers, so the shorter strings are sufficient for 99+% of the pianos I service ('course it's really only the larger strings that will be too short on a big piano - smaller strings should still work on a big piano). I carry three of the smaller diameter strings, two of medium strings and one of each larger size. I loop them around into a circle about the size they would be on those 1/4-pound reels the supply houses sell. I pack them in small cardboard pack that are designed to be mailers for a CD. Thought I'd share this idea for anyone interested in shrinking their mobile string supplies. Picture below shows the labeled packs, a coil of strings and a Velcro band to bundle the packs up into one unit. Each time I use a string I mark the cardboard envelope to remind me to add a replacement string. Below is three 0.033" strings coiled up in the pack. Below packs are bundled and tied together with a Velcro strap. String bundles in my string replacement tool bag. Terry Farrell -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100621/94a42895/attachment-0001.htm> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 116820 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100621/94a42895/attachment-0004.jpeg> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 110404 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100621/94a42895/attachment-0005.jpeg> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 106576 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100621/94a42895/attachment-0006.jpeg> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 107720 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100621/94a42895/attachment-0007.jpeg>
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