<HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>Re: [CAUT] Re: Steinway Damper sytem upgrade & redesign</TITLE> </HEAD> <BODY> On 11/8/04 2:56 PM, "David Ilvedson" <ilv= ey@sbcglobal.net> wrote: <BLOCKQUOTE>Yeah, but I can permanently fix the= problem and certainly get more friction relief than your method AND I can c= harge $150 for the work...;-]    The job usually takes less than an hour for me.   I charge $100 i= f I'm there tuning the piano.    </BLOCKQUOTE> Hi David,     No question there isn’t all that much = difference in time. But I can fit it into “the next tuning appointment= ” without allowing even an extra half hour, so I find it a bit more co= nvenient from a scheduling point of view. And I charge a little less than $1= 00 ($75). Depends on the customer. Like I said, it was that very strong nega= tive reaction to my description of the “preferred method” from a= particular customer that got me to think of an alternative. So there it is = in the old bag of tricks, for the low budget places (read “institution= s” in particular, not actually including the one where I am employed, = now that I am employed and not contract, but often churches and such), and i= nstances where in home major drilling is an issue.     BTW, drilling the hole for the pitman pin: Use a lo= ng bit (6” will do). First drop the trap lever and drill all the way t= hrough it from the top, positioning the hole a bit to the back of the dimple= produced by the original pitman, taking care to drill perpendicularly. Then= put the lever back into position, and insert the drill bit through that hol= e from the bottom, using that hole as a guide to drill into the bottom of th= e lift tray (This makes sure you get the holes nicely lined up with one anot= her to avoid any binding problems). Observe the angle and placement of the d= rill bit in relation to the hole through the keybed to ensure you are center= ed (fudged a bit to the back). Of course, I would also generally pull the ac= tion, and use the dimple in the tray leather as additional positioning infor= mation. Regards, Fred Sturm University of New Mexico http://music.unm.edu/about/staff_members/fred_s_st= urm.php A mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. <= BR> </BODY> </HTML>