<html> At 11:54 AM 09/19/2000 -0500, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>Thanks again Jon, you have my interest, can we wrestle with the subject a bit more though?   As a critical point, it would seem measuring front weight, strike weight, installing adjustment screws and (perhaps) moving capstans would be more (rather than less) complicated than Chris' method.  Afterall, we are merely removing surplus lead "wholesale" (intuitively nonetheless), "ballparking" the springs (within 5 or 6g), then trimming with a single lead (slide-scale fashion).  </blockquote> Ok, for the sake of argument let's say it is about equal in the time consumption department but the result is more precise with David's approach. The haphazard, come-what-may approach to SW and FW of conventional methods does not deliver the smooth response of David's technique. Let's look at the SW,  believe it or not; a smooth, graduated SW has less voicing discrepancies. Repetition spring tension on adjacent notes is more even, this translates to an even resistance at letoff. If you've ever weighed off a set of hammers you know what I mean by weight variations. When dealing with performance pianos, consistency is everything. And there is something special about the feel of keys which have the FW graduated on a smooth curve. Pianists aren't quite sure what it is but know they like it. <blockquote type=cite cite>I've de-leaded before using a "cancel-weight" method.  It is quite accurate, but certainly more time consuming than the above.   I appreciate your recommendation Jon, and wonder how much time is involved in your (Stanwood's) approach?   </blockquote> Graduating the SW may take a few hours. FW releading is done on the bench without having to sample weights on individual keys for DW. Rather than the trial process of hoping to pick the right lead to pop out and jockey another lead around, it is more of a recipe. Let's say David's spec FW for a certain key is 25g and the key weighs off at 32g. Tare the scale and place a weight on the key to read 7g. Decide which of the closest leads is the best candidate for removal, reduces a lot of guess work. After the hole is plugged a new weight can be installed to get the key to the desired spec if needed. Moving capstans is not done on every job, only when called for. The last B which had the capstans moved I was able to remove six pounds of lead from the keys with the help of17mm knuckles and wip assist springs. <blockquote type=cite cite>This repair order as you may recall, was a 1963 B, weighing-off well, but playing poorly, and carrying a whole lot of lead. As the turbo wippen allowed a return to typical leading, provided ideal DW, UW & F with moderate spring tension, and a touch consistant with our favourite pianos, I'm inclined to stick with my original assessment. My question is whether the (seemingly) large amount of additional work required by NTM will provide a worthy benefit, beyond what the turbo- wippens have already provided? I will rough-in the regulation and get this instrument in-use for awhile. Is it worthwhile to access front weight, strike weight and action ratio in future? </blockquote> NTM ?  It is worthwhile to assess everything so you know what you have and to realize what effect the alterations had or will have. Regards, Jon Page <blockquote type=cite cite>  Understood, I'm asking the subjective Jon, but appreciate your opinion.  Others as well.    BTW, yes the "D" is back in action, or should I say "the action is back in D?  :>)   Mark Cramer, RPT Brandon University           <dl> <dd>-----Original Message----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org">owner-caut@ptg.org</a> [<a href="mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org%5DOn" eudora="autourl">mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]</a><a href="mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org%5DOn" eudora="autourl">On</a> Behalf Of Jon Page <dd>Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 9:40 PM <dd>To: <a href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</a> <dd>Subject: RE: turbo-guru speaks <dd>Graduate the hammer Strike Weight and the key Front Weight to spec curves <dd>supplied by David. Key Ratio alteration may also be needed (moving capstans). <dd>Pre-tension the assist springs to just support the wippen while installing. <dd>Then by adjusting the assist spring tensioning screw, to produce the desired <dd>Balance Weight, it takes about 45 minutes for the keyboard. <dd>I also remove the dog-leg from the butterfly spring with a pair of wire bending <dd>pliers made from lineman pliers. In one operation it introduces a nice curve to <dd>the wire which rides the Teflon nut and places the contact point more towards <dd>the front of the wip giving a longer spring arm. <dd>Jon Page <dd>At 07:05 PM 09/18/2000 -0500, you wrote:<blockquote type=cite cite> <dd>Care to share with the class Jon? <dd>Mark <dd>David Stanwood has a much better approach to releading with assist springs <dd>with the benefit of being inertially more balanced. <dd>I've been applying his technique for eight years and the method explained <dd>below seems much more complicated. <dd>Jon Page</blockquote> <dd>Jon Page,   piano technician <dd>Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. <dd><a href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net" eudora="autourl">mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net</a> <dd>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </dl></blockquote> <div>Jon Page,   piano technician</div> <div>Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.</div> <div><a href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net" EUDORA=AUTOURL>mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net</a></div> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </html>