[CAUT] Knuckle Direction

[Don Mannino]

OK, I guess I'll have to reply.  I was wanting to take a vote count on each side, because I was figuring it would end up being pretty evenly divided :-)

My vote is: Against the grain out, smooth grain on return.  This will give the best power, and the most control of the tone during soft playing.  If the leather grain on the skin is especially rough, though, then I might do it the other.  But applying Teflon powder smoothes out the roughness of the buckskin enough that it would have to be pretty awful skin to be too rough.

But like Jim said, installing them all the same direction is the most important.  It will function well either way.

If the knuckles have Ecsain skin, then there is no mark, and the grain does not have a direction.

Don Mannino

-----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