[pianotech] simple string looping machine

[Ron Nossaman]

On 1/2/2013 5:59 PM, Ed Foote wrote:
> Hmm,
>      I have been bending the wire around a round-nose needle nose plier
> for the 270 degree bend, and then, with a three inch tail, I wind the
> coil by hand.  Does this tool require the string be cut to near length
> before you can use it?

I can put the formed loop on the hitch and cut the string to exact 
length before putting the winds on the tail, or just rough cut it with 
less trouble. But yes, with this tool, you cut the string so you can put 
the wire through the brass tubing to wind the tail. I've considered 
cutting a 1/2 turn spiral slot the length of the tool to not have to 
thread the wire in from the end, but this hasn't come up enough through 
the years that I've felt compelled to try it. I never have had a use for 
round needle nose pliers in my kit, as this, a small vise grip, and my 
trusty chain nose pliers do everything I need with music wire. I 
recently found a terrific pair of round nose Channellocks at an estate 
sale cheap, but still don't need them in my kit. It's just what I've 
gotten used to. The stem the loop is formed around is a #7 wood screw 
with the head cut off, and the pin next to it is a small wire nail if 
that's worth anything. I've found that to be a good average to form the 
loop, which can be adjusted bigger or smaller by how far around it is 
initially formed, then just pulling the tail square to the wire.

Incidentally, stringing something with a lot of tied strings, this is 
way easier on the fingers than wrapping the tails by hand.
Ron N