<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"> <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Thanks Robert. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> You’re correct, it is PB.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> It’s actually for Baldassin who is doing some new fangled program. One of my piano tech students is a physics major and came up with a formula for him. One variable that I did not know is that PB alloys vary much more than other alloys so it’s hard to find one “formula”.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I know Lutz and will contact him if Rick needs more.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Thanks.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Jim Busby BYU<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Robert A. Murphy Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008 7:44 AM To: College and University Technicians Subject: Re: [CAUT] Bronze wire tension formula<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Hi Jim, You're probably referring to phosphor bronze wire, however, if you're going by the color alone, it very well may be red brass.  Not too long ago I restrung a small clavichord that was phosphor bronze throughout, but, that's very unusual.  The harpsichord builder I worked for in Cambridge, MA back in the '80s (Eric Herz) used to use phosphor bronze in the bass of his instruments, instead of brass - reason being that brass takes 1-2 years to fully "bloom" whereas phosphor bronze is tonally very open from the get-go.  The down side is that p.b. is more brittle than brass, so, it can be tricky to make the hitch pin loops  and the strings also have a shorter life than the brass does. Call Lutz at The Instrument Workshop (541) 210-2701 and he'll tell you what you have and what's best for that instrument, including a stringing scale. All best, Robert --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert A. Murphy Piano Technician & Curator of Fortepianos Oberlin Conservatory of Music cell:    517.285.3269 shop:  440.775.8275 On Jul 28, 2008, at 05:10 PM, Jim Busby wrote:<o:p></o:p> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid maroon 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:1.0pt'> List,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid maroon 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:1.0pt'>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid maroon 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:1.0pt'> Do any of you know the tension formula for bronze wire? We need it for a harpsichord stringing program and I can’t find it.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid maroon 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:1.0pt'>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid maroon 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:1.0pt'> Thanks,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid maroon 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:1.0pt'> Jim Busby<o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid maroon 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:1.0pt'>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>