Pinblocks

[Ed Sutton]

David-
    The tuning pins are .287" +or-.001" (they vary around the diameter of
the pin).  I mic'ed a few handfulls and decided not to worry about them.
The reamer is .2785"   I bought it from Schaff 7 or 8 years ago.  It's
marked 4.  Schaff and Apsco catalogs give differing sizes for these reamers,
but neither matches this one.  Paul Larudee suggests reaming closer to the
pin diameter than I did.
    On the Stein I'm getting down torques of 100-125 inch pounds, up torques
about 25 inch pounds higher.  This is on the very first tuning, I expect a
little less after 4 or 5 tunings.  Might have a chance to measure the
Steinway in a week or so, but the feeling is similar.
    These were two nice pinblocks from a good vintage, and were still
functioning well with their original pins.  I would not assume this
experience applies to multi-laminate pinblocks.
Ed


----------
>From: David Skolnik <skolnik@attglobal.net>
>To: caut@ptg.org
>Subject: Re: Pinblocks
>Date: Tue, Mar 5, 2002, 10:02 PM
>

> 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
>> >>>
>> >
>