Pinblocks

[David Skolnik]

Ed-

Just for the sake of clarity...you repinned two 1920 vintage pianos having 
the original 2/0 (?) pins with 3.5/0 (bottoms) .  This would make the 
diameter  about .2885", give or take a few ten thousandths?  You reamed 
with a #4/0 reamer  (.281").  Did you mic the pins to see how close to 
nominal spec they came?  The Schaff catalog states that the reamers are 
.009" under the pin size, however the nominal diameter for 3/0 pin is 
.286",  4/0 is .291", making the reamers actually .010" below pin 
size.  Using a 4/0 reamer on a 3.5/0 pin gives you a difference of only 
.0075".  What kind of  up and down torque did you get?  Were you able to 
keep pins from contacting the front of the tuning pin hole in the 
plate?   Just a generally curious fellow, I am.   Thanks

David Skolnik




At 12:13 PM 03/05/2002 -0600, you wrote:
>Hi Avery,
>     Yes. They are available with 2/0 and 1/0 tops; the bottoms are both
>3.5/0.
>     Paul Larudee gives the thought behind them in articles in the January
>and February 2002 PTJournals.
>     He recommended the 1/0 topped pins to me.
>     The pins seem to work just as he described in the articles.
>     I've just restrung a Steinway A and a 5'2" C. F. Stein. Both 1920's
>vintage with original pinblocks and not previously restrung. They both tune
>very easily.  If I didn't know, I'd think there was a new pinblock in there.
>     Write him at <larudee@pacbell.net> and he'll send you some sample pins.
>Ed
>
>----------
> >From: Avery Todd <atodd@UH.EDU>
> >To: caut@ptg.org
> >Subject: Re: Pinblocks
> >Date: Tue, Mar 5, 2002, 10:33 AM
> >
>
> > Hi Ed,
> >
> > More info, please. :-) Are these the pins I've seen talked about that
> > are the same size as 2/0 at the top but are bigger 3/0 - 4/0, whatever,
> > on the section of the pin which goes into the block?
> >
> > Avery
> >
> >>Dear Ray,
> >>I've just restrung two pianos using Paul Larudee's Lo Torq pins, and the
> >>results are excellent.  Your pianos would be excellent 
> candidates.  Assuming
> >>your pianos have #2 pins, I would recommend reaming with a #4 reamer from
> >>Schaff, then repinning with LoTorq 1/3.5 pins.  Chuck the reamer in a heavy
> >>duty electric drill, put a depth stop at about 2 inches, drill in and out
> >>once on each hole, and preferably blow compressed air on the reamer while
> >>you work.
> >>I highly recommend these pins to college technicians.  In a Steinway
> >>pinblock, these pins tune as well as #2 pins, maybe even a little better.
> >>They provide a quality alternative to pinblock replacement.
> >>Ed Sutton
> >>
> >>----------
> >>>From: "Breakall, Raymond" <rbreakal@richmond.edu>
> >>>To: "'caut@ptg.org'" <caut@ptg.org>
> >>>Subject: Pinblocks
> >>>Date: Mon, Mar 4, 2002, 12:09 PM
> >>>
> >>
> >>>  Dear list,
> >>>
> >>>  Anyone have a good way to drill pinblocks while in the piano? I have a
> >>>  couple of Steinways where the pinblock is in good shape but needs 
> oversize
> >>>  pins. I have heard about table drill configurations where the drill 
> can be
> >>>  mounted over the pinblock area on a sliding rail. Any ideas?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>  Ray Breakall
> >>>  Piano Technician
> >>>  University of Richmond
> >>>  Richmond, VA
> >>>  (804)287-6342
> >>>
> >