David, Thanks for the response. It seems, everything on a harpsichord is 'by feel' or 'because that's the way it has been done', with little or no R & D. Why is that? Confusing to me. I'm resurrecting a Sabatihl that self-destructed and was brought to me in several "Baskets"! Whoopee!<G> It's the first for me...redesign of the original to, (hopefully), elliviate the possibility of the "self-destruct". As it stands, I doubt I'll ever do another. As for contacting Zuckerman, I've tried. They seem to want to ignore. I'd like to get a good "t" hammer w/hook from them as well. (Sigh.) As for the proper tip to put on a torque wrench, I took a cheapie 3/16", 1/4" drive, socket and did a little filing, (with "jewelers files), and...voila'! Just put a 1/4" to 3/8" adaptor on the torque wrench and I'm up and running. Now, I need some specs. I calculated that the drill(s) needed for a slightly looser torque would be a 3/16" or a #12 drill bit. Any help on that account would, also, be appreciated. I assume, since the string tension is so much less than a piano, that less torque would be needed to hold the tuning pin. The one thing that bothers me is: when a string breaks, (which is often), the owner/player of said harpsichord has to take the tuning pin out of the pin block to work the "magic" technique of replacing/winding the string. (I took Ann Garee's class at the Vegas thingee. Had fun and learned a bit about that aspect of these critters.<G>) The problem: if the tuning pin is in/out of the darned block numerous times, that sucker is going to eventually be too loose IMHO. BTW, the material I am using for the pinblock is Delignet. (I know: 'Why???!!!....Because it's what I have on hand...and, it's what I'm used to working with!<G>) The original block was solid European Beech, (which did the Self-destruct thingee) Well, such is the latest "experience" in my shop.<G> Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon) Captain, Tool Police Squares R I > [Original Message] > From: David Doremus <algiers_piano at bellsouth.net> > To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org> > Date: 9/16/10 7:31:33 AM > Subject: Re: [pianotech] Harpsichord Tuning Pin Torque? > > Honestly no, I have never measured although I have tuned too many to > count. Maybe 30 in/lbs at a guess? You know it when you feel it. They > just need to hold the tension of the string without slipping and turn > easily with the wrist. Too tight is very difficult to work with. I have > a couple of Dowds and a Herz that I see regularly, I can try to measure > them if I figure out a way to get the right tip on a torque wrench <g> > You might try contacting Zuckermann, since they are a fairly large > company as harpsichord makers go and might have some research on this. I > have drilled pinblocks for harpsichords and clavichords purely by feel > of samples with no problems. > > --Dave > New Orleans > > On 9/15/10 9:02 PM, Joseph Garrett wrote: > > > > Anyone know the approximate tuning pin torques of a harpsichord? > > Joe > > Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon) > > Captain, Tool Police > > Squares R I > > -- > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.560 / Virus Database: 270.12.26/2116 - Release Date: 5/15/09 6:16 AM
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