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<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>Hi Barbara,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>we had an older Yamaha G-2 with balance-holes
ovaled fore & aft to nearly twice the size of the rail pin.
(!?)</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>Some keys literally had an 1/8th inch of pulley,
making </SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>it difficult in some cases to
determine where the original hole-center was.
</SPAN></FONT></DIV></SPAN></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>Obviously this isn't normal wear and
tear. ( I'm guessing someone forgot to read the fine print on their
new easing tool) </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff
size=2><SPAN class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>Nonetheless, we used Bill's method (PT Journal; May
1990) during the course of rebuilding the action; fall of 2005, and the
keys continue to fit and work beautifully.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>There was a fair amount of alignment needed with the
initial fitting, but I'm guessing this was more my inexperience than the method
itself.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>best regards,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>Mark Cramer,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>Brandon University</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007>PS Floyd is back here in Manitoba, Barbara. He's just
applied for membership to the MB Chapter, and is helping access/repair vertical
practice pianos. He's intent on completing the exam series, and I'm glad to
have his help in the shop.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Book Antiqua" color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=950534116-27072007></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I can see that this method would be better and
more stable than squishing wood. Is there anyone with experience with it
from the Far North, Midwest or Northeast where we go through <huge>
seasonal swings in humidity levels?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Barbara Richmond</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>on the way out the door to pick up a S&S B
action w/key bottom trouble</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=keithspiano@gmail.com href="mailto:keithspiano@gmail.com">Keith
Roberts</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=caut@ptg.org
href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">College and University Technicians</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, July 26, 2007 10:14
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [CAUT] Key bottoms (was
Re: key-easing pliers?)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>When I replaced the balance rail holes ala Spurlock, I drilled them
slightly smaller the first pass and they were tight, really close. I took a
1/8" chainsaw file that mics at .130 to .135 on the cutting surface and
it was tight so I inserted the file in the hole and rotated 1 turn
counterclockwise and removed. (I had to make a handle). They were perfect on
the new pins. </DIV>
<DIV>Lucky me.</DIV>
<DIV>So I ground off the back and sides of one of those files till I could
taper the hole until the key rocked nicely and leave the bottom
untouched.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>And when I checked them 2 years later they are still perfect. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Keith Roberts<BR><BR> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 7/26/07, <B class=gmail_sendername>Fred
Sturm</B> <<A href="mailto:fssturm@unm.edu">fssturm@unm.edu</A>>
wrote:</SPAN>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<DIV style="WORD-WRAP: break-word">
<DIV><SPAN class=q>
<DIV>On Jul 26, 2007, at 11:46 AM, Jim Busby wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Fred,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">One
difference/question I have is - isn't it easier to insert the proper
sizing cauls, then turn the set upside down and insert the BR pins (the
cauls won't let the pins fall through), then add sizing fluid? After
they dry, ream the mortise so the "foot" of the hole is the exact
thickness.
<BR></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></SPAN>Takes a long
time to insert those balance pins in each hole, and then pull them out
later (I don't have a bunch of student helpers, so a few seconds here and
there on each little procedure add up). I'm "reaming" with a drill bit,
which doesn't remove as much wood as a real reamer, and maybe leaves a bit
of "uncut splinters" (we're talking fairly microscopic) to hold glue if I
need to size later. That's my reasoning, anyway. And I think it leaves a
more stable condition than just putting in BR pins and letting the wood
conform to them, if your holes are too small to begin with. I'm closer to
having the right amount of wood (in this dimension, not to be confused
with the reaming you are talking about above). Making the hole exactly the
size of the pin will require a bit of easing. So I use one sizing caul,
which is heated. The heat increases the size of the balance pin in the
caul from .146" to .147", and the heat helps size the wood - make the size
relatively permanent. It puts the hole .001" larger than the pin,
very nicely and consistently. (Glue-sizing to make the hole smaller where
needed is a separate part of the procedure, done only to holes that are
too large). <SPAN class=q><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Replace
them on the Keyframe to check BR fit and fix pulley keys.
<BR></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></SPAN>That's a lot
of time and work. I like to leave the keys in the clamp, and bring the
balance pin to the key. I can feel that pin going into the hole very
precisely, and also feel if there is any play in any direction.. <SPAN
class=q><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Many
times pulley keys are no longer an issue with the glue sizing formula.
BTW I use a much diluted (12/1 or so) Elmer's glue for sizing. Ron N.
tells me that this is the only place on a piano where he uses that glue.
(Thanks Ron) There is no sound, click, etc. with Elmer's glue as there
is with PVCE, Hot Hide, and or other glues. </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Baldassin
taught me to add this extra step (it really doesn't take long) of
placing the keys back on the frame BEFORE the bushings are in so that
you can work the BR holes w/o "false readings" from overly tight new
bushings. It takes about 10 – 15 minutes longer but the total focus on
the BR hole pays big dividends, IMO. Here is when I deal with the pulley
keys because now you're sure of which ones weren't fixed by the glue
sizing. </SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></SPAN>Rick B
is certainly correct in wanting to separate bottom hole from bushings, so
one doesn't mask the other. I think I do it with a lot less time and
effort. Putting a loose pin into the hole removes the factor of the weight
of the key. All that lead can mask a lot of problems. <SPAN class=q>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Anyway,
just a bit more to consider for your book... Who knows? Marriott's
success, he said, was to "write out every tiny process and revise it in
writing until nothing more could be perfected, then get all your
employees to do it THAT way."
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></SPAN>I don't like
having employees other than myself. That's one reason I am in this
business <G>. <SPAN class=q>
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(I vote
for you to write that book, sometime before your beard is entirely
gray?? You and Ron. Oh well, Ron…))
</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE></SPAN>I don't think
there's much chance of me compiling and writing in book form. But if
anyone else wants to do that, and make use of what I have posted from time
to time, that would be fine with me. Have at it with my compliments.
<BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><SPAN
style="WORD-SPACING: 0px; FONT: 12px Helvetica; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-INDENT: 0px; WHITE-SPACE: normal; LETTER-SPACING: normal; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px">
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">High
regards,</SPAN></SPAN></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,128); FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Jim</SPAN></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></SPAN></BLOCKQUOTE>Regards,<BR> </DIV><SPAN
class=sg>
<DIV>Fred</DIV></SPAN></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>