All, The last convention in Las Vegas, each attendee got their "packet". In that packet was a piece of plastic, called a screw gauge.(on the gauge, it was labled "Standard Screw & Wire Gage" AND "Metric Screw & Wire Gage"). Even tho, the company that made these necessary tools spelled Gauge incorrectly, (obviously, the spelling police were not present at the factory.<G>), this gauge is the best I've found. It is thick enough to measure sheet metal screws that have the threads all the way up to the head. I've found, over the years, screw gauges to be an essential TOOL for what we do. These Gauges are available from our Home Office or your local Hardware store, or direct from the manufacturer. I strongly advise, All technicians to have, at least one in their tool kit AND one in their shop, (if they have a shop<G>). It takes up very little room and will become an integral part of the way you do your work, believe me. Gee, no more guessing what size screw that fell behind the piano!<G> On that note, I have a Steinway type lid prop. It is made out of wood. I've inserted 1/2" magnets in varioius places, on both sides of the lid prop. Since the large percentage of screws in a piano are steel, the chance of misplacing those case screws just got a lot less possible. BTW, since we are, by nature, very anal, let's all put the same screw back in the same hole it came out of. This will lessen the incidence of stripped screws, (not to mention a whole lot of other problems.<G>) And, remember to turn the screw backwards when starting to re-insert the screw, in the correct hole, THEN turn it in once it "clicks" into it's thread groove. Regards, Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police Squares R I
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC