[CAUT] pre-stretching new string?

[Richard Brekne]

Hi Wim

I think the point being made against string stretchers is the tendancy 
to misuse them, or use them in a way that can damage rather then 
contribute positively to the piano. Personally, I could easily live 
without one. 

I read Conrads note with interest. His posts always catch my eye.  I'm 
not really sure I caught his point on this one tho... I was argueing 
against kinking the wire around the bridge pin... and he raised a 
disagreement which I couldnt find in his list of <<do's>>.  He did 
mention a kink in relation to the counterbearing length... but I dont 
see how that relates to the bridge pin.  In anycase... his list all 
seemed like good things to do to me... dont really see where he figures 
we disagree.

Cheers
RicB




        In a message dated 6/6/07 2:01:21 A.M. Central Daylight Time, 
        ricb at pianostemmer.no writes:

        I have  to agree with Ron N's statement about throwing away the
        string 
        stretcher.



    Perhaps if I describe my string stretcher, it will make sense. It is
    a home 
    made fulcrum type. I believe I got the idea from Greg Hulme. It is 
    made
    entirely out of pin block material, except the for at the  fulcrum,
    which is a
    bolt.
     
    A block of wood supports a long arm. On one end is a handle. On the
    other 
    end is a block of wood with the tip the width of three strings. I
    put the block 
    of wood on the keybed, and like a see saw, push down on the handle,
    which
    brings  the tip up to the strings.
     
    I don't use too much force, but enough to get resistance. The
    strings are 
    pushed up within two or three inches of the agraffs, but because of 
    the design,
    I can only go up to about the middle of the 6th octave, or  where
    there is
    not enough room between the belly and the plate. Pushing up on  the
    strings
    would be like using a string puller to level  strings.  


    I have had good results with this thing. I've never broken a  string
    or an
    agraff.
     
    Wim