[Files] [CAUT] Tool for removing capstans

[Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel)]

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I finally found time to make some photos of this tool for those who  
are interested...


The tool started life as a 3/8" plug cutter of unknown manufacture.  
It just says U.S.A. 3/8" on the tool. I think it was from one of  
those "Do it" places. Anyway, it proved useless as a plug cutter and  
sat around next to the drill press for a few years until the day I  
spied it while trying to think of a way to quickly and efficiently  
remove capstans without taking the keys off the keyframe. This is how  
it works. I place a damper wire set screw (I couldn't find anything  
that worked better) into one of the holes in the capstan and place  
the tool (chucked into my cordless drill) onto the capstan making  
sure the screw gets up into the cutter slot on the side of the tool  
(photo #2). I then back the capstan out, remove the screw, throw the  
capstan into a cup and put the screw into the next capstan. I know  
this sounds clumsy and a little involved but it goes really quickly  
and it really does take just 10 minutes to remove a whole set. To  
insert the capstans, I just do everything in reverse. Put the capstan  
with the screw inserted into the tool, put the capstan into the hole  
in the key and turn it in. This takes a little longer than turning  
them out because you have to be more careful, but is still fast. I  
needed a spacer in the tool to keep the tool from going too far down  
on the capstan and came up with the brilliant idea of using a felt  
plug cut from some scrap hammer felt (photo #1).  After inserting the  
plug I wrap some tape around the tool to keep the plug in place. This  
serves the dual purpose of spacer and polisher. To polish, I put a  
small dab of Flitz on the top of every capstan and spin the tool on  
the capstan at high speed (without the little screw inserted of  
course) and then clean it off with a cotton rag. It takes 10 - 15  
minutes to do a whole set this way.


Eric



Eric Wolfley, RPT

Supervising Piano Technician

College-Conservatory of Music

University of Cincinnati


Photos at:

http://tinyurl.com/b46fo

http://tinyurl.com/8w2f3


Direct ptg.org URLs:

https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/files/attachments/ae/9d/92/e7/ 
capstantool1.jpg

https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/files/attachments/5b/61/16/f4/ 
capstantool2.jpg


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