Scott, Somewhere I must have missed the fact that it was a Zinc alloy. I don't know if it can be hardened. Roger Gable ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Jackson" <scottwaynejackson at gmail.com> To: <pianotech at ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, September 19, 2010 8:49 PM Subject: Re: [pianotech] YC Capo Bars > Can you harden Zinc alloy? > > Scott Jackson > > > On 20/09/10 07:10, Roger Gable wrote: >> Jon, >> I suggest an alternate repair. Reshape the original insert and have the >> machinist who is working with you check the hardness at the crown. It >> should be around Rockwell 40. If not, explore having it hardened. It >> could end up costing less to harden the insert rather than machine a >> slot. Also, the water hardened drill rod you obtained from your local >> supplier is probably too hard and may cause buzzing at the duplex. >> Additionally, I've always felt that the capo should have as few >> mechanical "interruptions" as possible. >> >> >>> A post last month showed the string impressions in the v-bar insert >>> on a 1996 Weber grand. >>> http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/2010-August/027631.html >> John, >> >> That looks like the Zinc alloy inserts that were used for a short time in >> about 1994 or so. They not only were too soft, they made the piano very >> hard to tune! Very sticky material with steel wire pressing against it. >> >> They later changed them to brass, which tuned a lot smoother but tended >> to >> make the tone more zingy, and create more duplex noise because the angle >> through the capo area was fairly shallow. >> >> I agree with your solution to use brass rod, but you might want to >> increase >> the counter-bearing angle a little while you're at it. >> >> Don Mannino >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org >> <http://ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/pianotech> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at >> ptg.org <http://ptg.org/mailman/listinfo/pianotech>] On Behalf >> Of Jon Page >> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2010 2:07 PM >> To: pianotech list >> Subject: [pianotech] YC Capo Bars >> >> A while ago I posted pix of a YC with the treble wire dug into the capo >> bars. I have the capo inserts removed and here's the photos. >> >> I called YC and they do not support this model 1996 Weber anymore. >> >> I found some round rod and tested it by hammering a piece of music wire >> onto >> it. The wire flattened but the rod didn't budge. >> >> I'll have a machine shop plane down the surface and mill a groove to hold >> the rod at the appropriate height. I'll not worry about the duplex, I'll >> make it straight. >> >> So much for making a quick buck on a spec piano. >> -- >> >> Regards, >> >> Jon Page >
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