<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2737.800" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; = FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 bgColor=#ffffff leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 = rightMargin=7> <DIV>Might I suggest that Roland should be the one to determine the = market introduction on this jig.  If it is his ingenuity that developed = the jig, he should be making some money off of it.  Too often in this = business, good ideas get copied, modified & marketed, & the one who did all the = leg-work gets left in the dust.  Be sure to keep him in the = driver's seat.  That may have been your intention Dale, but just a = reminder.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Otto</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr 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=Erwinspiano@aol.com href="mailto:Erwinspiano@aol.com">Erwinspiano@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> ; <A = title=caut@ptg.org href="mailto:caut@ptg.org">caut@ptg.org</A> ; <A = title=Live2drive15@aol.com href="mailto:Live2drive15@aol.com">Live2drive15@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 11, = 2004 5:45 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Moving Knuckle = position with the Kaplan Jig</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 = size=2> <DIV>    <FONT size=3>List </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  I thought I'd post an update of this project.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Last month I posted about needing to = move knuckles on a few sets of shanks. All were renner parts for stwys = with the 15.5 mm knuckle to center pin distance. This part is almost always = a recipe for a heavy touch unless extremely light hammers are used or prepped.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   The jig I used is made by Roland = Kaplan R.T.T. of San Jose. He was quite generous & loaned it to me for = experimentation & to copy if I wish. <STRONG>I do.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   This simple jig is very accurate = & very quick Making both economical to do in terms of time & dollars. I = spent 10 minutes setting it up & getting familiar with the function. After cutting  a few dozen myself I turned it over to = My bright & ever capable 17 yr. old son Jacob. </FONT><STRONG>Kinda proud</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   He took a complete set of shanks = & removed all the knuckles on the bandsaw . Time 25 minutes. Then he wnet = straight to the jig. Time to cut all the slots & in one pass , 20 minutes.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Then he glued in the new parts = in about 40 minutes. Total time About 1 & 1/2 hr.. Tokiwa knuckles are $125.00 = & Renners are $145.00 Plus Jacob's time</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Once the jig is set up the craftsmen = made blade I used cut a perfectly fit slot for both Tokiwa & Renner = knuckles. It only tore out a small corner of the original = rosewood molding. A slower movement eliminated this.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Safety:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>    I added some small safety rails = to prevent <STRONG>any</STRONG> Exposure of the operator to the blade. = I'm going to copy the jig & make only minor modifications.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   I realize this is a job one = doesn't do very often But considering the cost of parts at about $400ish plus the = hammers & prep, etc., it can save the client a ton & you can be the hero.  If the hammers that came on the shanks with = wrong dimensioned knuckle placement are worth reusing the jig allows = for that option as well which really save the cost of half an action rebuild.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  How many of us would be interested in a jig = like this? Let me know. What would it be worth to purchase a premade jig = from Spurlock or Farrel or anyone willing to make it.? Just = curious</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>  Cheers</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Dale Erwin</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BODY></HTML>