The Young Chang Blues

[EHILBERT@midd.middlebury.edu]

Joseph,
      You asked how does one tighten the leather on a knuckle?  No this is
not the same as bolstering.  I described this process in detail a few days
ago but apparently you missed that post, so I shall send it again for you and
for anyone else who may have missed it and be interested.:

Tom, I concur you probably have a knuckle problem but suspect it has to do
with loose knuckle leather moving with the jack during letoff.  If you
find it is loose when squeezing the knuckle between your thumb and finger, it
will probably help to tighten the leather.  Best bet is to detach leather at
one end on the knuckle, and reglue the leather tightly with a small spring
clamp.  I modified a bunch of small 4" Pony Brand spring clamps for this purpose

Here is the easy modification.  These are Pony #3201 clams.  Slide off the
rubber tips and you'll see a flat portion at the end of the tip.  With a pair
of parallel grip pliers, bend the tips in to each other at an angle so they
now touch in an angle that will allow you to put the clamp onto the knuckle
leather wjhile pressing it in tightly to the core.  You will find this
tightening to be of value in many actions that have drag in the letoff.  We
routinely do this tightening on brand new knuckles also  since they are usually
loose right out of the box.  Yes, even on the "good quality" ones if they are
loose.  It can make a dramatic improvement in mushy feely actions at letoff
as well.  ,Try it and let me know if you like it!
Ed Hilbert, RPT


So Joseph if that is not clear enough I will be glad to go into greater detail for you.
      This really can make a dramatic change in the feel of an action.  We do this on brand new
pianos if the leather is loose, and also frequently on new
shanks when installing new shanks and flanges.  Try it and let me know what you
think.  My wife, Emily, does a whole set in about an hour and a half which
is cheaper than removing otherwise good knuckles and then installing another setwhicnh may very
well still not be as tight as you can reglue the first set.
Again, try it on a few and see if it doesn't work well.  I'll be interested to
hear your results.

Ed Hilbert RPT\