[CAUT] Bridge pin removal

[Tim Geinert]

Fred,
You might also consider driving the pins in another millimeter or two.  When 
the pins are tight, i.e. zings are from nicks and not loose pins, this can 
work quite well.  The nick in the bridge pin goes below the string and new 
fresh bridge pin touches the string.  If it works, zings are gone, you 
didn't have to pull and replace all the bridge pins, and life is good.

Tim G.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Coates" <tcoates1 at sio.midco.net>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 9:34 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Bridge pin removal


> Fred,
>
> Heat works well.  Along with heat, make a nail puller by running a large 
> bastard file through the jaws of a large front cutter wire cutter.  A nail 
> puller is essentially a large front cutting wire cutters that won't cut. 
> After laying a cabinet scraper on the strings to make a platform for 
> leverage, use the nail puller to remove the pin. Pulling a little at a 
> time and resetting the puller lower on the pin prevents damaging the hole. 
> If you do damage the hole just dowel and redrill.
>
> Or, just grunt it out with vise grips.
>
> Worn bridge pins can cause zings.  That's why I wait until at least the 
> fourth chip tune to do the final leveling of bridge pins.
>
> Tim Coates
>
>
> On Dec 13, 2006, at 7:41 PM, Fred Sturm wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>     I wonder if anyone has some good advice for removing stubborn bridge
>> pins. Beyond grabbing them with vice grips, grunting and cursing <g>. I'm
>> thinking heat, but don't want to cause too much damage to the hole. Would
>> one heat with a soldering iron, say, 15 seconds (of course depending on
>> temperature of iron), then let the pin cool before pulling? That's what I 
>> am
>> planning, but thought I'd see if anyone had a better plan.
>>     BTW, my reason for removing solidly attached pins is to replace with
>> new, due to zinging sounds. I found one loose enough to pull, and it had 
>> the
>> definite common wear profile, with a sharp feel to the finger. Meaning a
>> nice bit of metal shaving sitting there. I pulled a few unisons of 
>> strings,
>> dressed the capo, and restrung, and the zings had reduced but not
>> disappeared. So I'm hoping bridge pins will be the magic cure.
>> Regards,
>> Fred Sturm
>> University of New Mexico
>>
>>