Agraffes -Reply

[Vince Mrykalo]

>>> <jpiesik@arinc.com> 02/13/97 09:09am >>>
     Dear List,
      I've spoken with a couple of metallurgists down
here in San Diego
     regarding re-annealing brass agraffes. The general
consensus is that
     the brass does not change its structure over time -
unless, of course,
     it's been cooked and cooled (not normally the case
for pianos).  <snip>
     >BTW, why do we replace agraffes IF they are not
broken, not visibly
     fatigued, or not badly grooved - besides the fact
that new ones look
     pretty? Why not just clean up the old ones?

________ reply ____________________________

If brass does not change over the years, why do the
old brass butt-plates and brass rails break so easily?

If you do not replace agraffs with new, then you must
ream each hole with a countersink drill to renew them.
All agraffs will have some degree of flattening in the
holes, even though you may not be able to see it.
Vince Mrykalo