[CAUT] Knuckle Direction

[Jim Busby]

Hi Paul,

I've heard both arguments "this way and the jack slips out better" and "that way and it gets returns better, especially on a soft blow". In a class I took years ago (can't remember who but he was good, and it made sense) he said his company did a lot of testing and it didn't seem to matter, but that they all should be the same. 

That being said, I just looked at some new Renner knuckles and they are installed so that the jack goes OUT with the grain and returns AGAINST the grain. To me this is counterintuitive. I looked at another piano and they were backwards from that. Go figure.

I bet Mannino has an opinion because those guys are testing fanatics!
 
Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Dempsey Jr., Paul E
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 1:58 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Cc: caut at ptg.org
Subject: [CAUT] Knuckle Direction

OK, maybe just too much week-end or perhaps old-timers....

I am re-knuckle-ing a set of grand shanks. The new parts are of Able manufacture and have a pencil line on each. 

Does this line face the flange or the hammer?

I know the line indicates the direction of the nap of the leather, but which way is preferable.



Paul E. Dempsey, RPT
Piano Technician Sr.
Marshall University
Huntington, WV
304-696-5418
304-617-1149