[pianotech] Size of Pinblock Drill bit?

[Noah Frere]

Will, thanks for the "feed"back.

the old pins were only .265", smaller than 1/0. I prefer to keep it in that
range. You said "You may find that if you drill for 2/0 pins and use a 1/0
pin, your block may well be too loose." I would not drill for 2/0 pins. I
will do as you suggest, and order all 3.

I actually don't have a drill press yet. If anyone has any mid-priced
suggestions, feel free :)



On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 4:13 PM, Encore Pianos <encorepianos at metrocast.net>wrote:

> I’ve done a couple of hundred? Pinblocks over many years.  Naturally, I
> have formed some ideas as to what works best.  I am not a fan of brad
> points, they don’t seem to stay sharp as long and don’t clear chips well.
> For very many years, I have used good quality fast spiral drill bits
> because they clear chips the best.  About 1100 RPM, feet at a steady rate,
> but do not hog.  Feed rate is a developed feel, like porridge.  Not too
> fast, not too slow – just right.  Compressor hose clears chips and keeps
> the bit cooler.  Use the shortest bit that will be long enough to drill the
> block, less likely to bend as it seeks the index mark.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> As for the proper size, buy all 3.  The missing link here is the how much
> or how little run out you have on your drill press – that will have an
> effect on the diameter of the finished hole and will determine what size
> will work best for you.   The length of tuning pin and how much of the
> thread is in the block itself will also determine how much purchase the pin
> has on the block. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Also, the recommended sizes as shown in the Pianotek catalog are for 2/0
> pins, which are .282 (sort of), while 1/0 pins are .276 (sort of).  You may
> find that if you drill for 2/0 pins and use a 1/0 pin, your block may well
> be too loose.  Use 2/0 pins unless there is some compelling reason to use
> the smaller pin.****
>
> ** **
>
> You will have left over stock after you make the block.  I keep mine and
> do several test drillings.  I drive in tuning pins to the same depth and
> decide which I like the best, which you can do by feel.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Will Truitt****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On
> Behalf Of *Noah Frere
> *Sent:* Wednesday, March 06, 2013 2:57 PM
> *To:* pianotech at ptg.org
> *Subject:* [pianotech] Size of Pinblock Drill bit?****
>
> ** **
>
> I searched my not inconsiderable archives for an answer, but have come up
> empty-handed. I am using 1/0 Denro blued tuning pins in a new multi-lam
> Maple pinblock, and need to order the drill bit. I'd like to double-drill -
> makes sense. The Pianotek catalog recommends, in effect, a drill bit .016"
> to .021" under the diameter of a 2/0 pin in a multi-lam pinblock. Following
> that logic, I could use the .250" on the first pass, and the .261" (.015"
> under) or .257" (.019" under) drill bit on the second pass. Also, I like
> the idea of the brad-points, but also like the idea of the other ones,
> which are "slow spiral."  Any recommendations?****
>
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