Friends, Perhaps enough has been said about flagpoling but I thought I might clarify a point or two. In spite of the fact that a tuning pin is made of good steel and is relatively thick, it still bends and twists under the approx. 165 pound pull of a piano string. Not much, mind you, but enough to affect the precision of tuning. So, as far as the pin is concerned, the goal for the tuner is to restore the bend and twist which the pin normally experiences. If we fail to do this, the pin will do it later, under the influence of the vibrations caused by playing the piano, and the pitch of the string will fall. The tuner pushes, pulls or turns the pin, feeling for the position of ideal pin torsion and string tension. If he succeeds in finding that spot, then the pin and string are left in the most stable condition. We all know, however, that pin block tightness, v-bar friction, pin flexibility and string elasticity all conspire to make it very difficult to find that point of ideal pin torsion and string tension. We also know that we are often tempted to push or pull past that ideal spot to reach a certain pitch and we sometimes yield to that temptation. This is commonly known as "leaning the pin" or "flagpoling" and it results in unstable tuning because the perfect balance or torsion and tension has not been achieved. There is also a healthy use of Flagpoling. We all do it and it works if it is done carefully and not to extremes. If, after we have pulled the pitch a tad sharp, we push the pin to bring the pitch down to perfect and, at the same time, we lean the pin toward the speaking length of the string, this helps restore the proper twist and bend. Another healthy use of Flagpoling or Leaning the Pin occurs when you have extremely tight pins. When making the first clockwise pull on an upright, if you lean the pin away from the speaking length by pushing the hammer toward the pin block, you lift the pin away from the lower side of the hole and reduce the friction slightly. This helps to move the pin but you must be careful that, on the last move of the hammer, you exert pressure that will lean the pin toward the speaking length to make sure it is settled back against the side of the hole. When tuning a grand with the hammer in the 3 o'clock position, this leaning occurs automatically. In my book, Different Strokes, Hammer Techniques For Piano Technicians, there are descriptions of other uses of Leaning The Pin.(Shameless promotion!) Hope this helps. Ken Burton "Doctor Piano" Calgary Alberta
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