perplexing problem

[David ilvedson]

Actually this is an old technique for air cooling the key.  : ) 
 It certainly is possible that a former technician thought the 
upweight was too low and sacraficed a bit of extra downweight to 
bring it up. What is the general downweight/upweight readings in 
bass/tenor/treble.  Subtracting upweight from downweight and 
divide by 2 will give you friction for the note.  I believe 12 
to 15 grams of friction is OK.  In any case it would be nice to 
plug the holes but I wouldn't do it for nothing unless you want 
to get the experience.  Remember you have never done the work 
before.  This might just be the opportunity to learn something, 
but its always nice to be paid something.  Offer them a low $ 
for the work unless it goes beyond plugging.  Relax and enjoy 
the experience...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA


> From:          "Greg Newell" <gnewell@EN.COM>
> To:            "pianotech@ptg.org" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date:          Tue, 08 Sep 1998 00:05:04 +0000
> Subject:       perplexing problem
> Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org

> Dear Liszt,
> 	I just ran across a real puzzler for me.  If you feel so
> inclined I would greatly appreciate your advice.
> 	I began today to regulate the action of an S&S "B".  I began
> as we all do with an inspection/evaluation of all parts and found,
> much to my dismay that key leads had been removed in over half the
> keys.  In all cases the lead removed was the one closest to the
> balance rail.  When these leads were removed the holes were not
> plugged but rather left open.  My feeling is that I must , at the
> very least, plug the holes with suitable wood.  I am however unsure
> now as to what else I may run in to with this action.  What I thought
> was going to be a simple regulation now may turn out to be much more.
>  If you were to run in to this kind of situation, and I'm sure that
> someone has, what else would you look for and how would YOU proceed? 
> Thsis job has already been quoted , etc., etc., and I feel that I
> could go ahead and charge extra within the proposal for plugging but
> reweighing, (something I've not done before), couldn't be worked in
> to a nominal increase over the original estimate.  Have you any idea
> why someone would elect to remove leads and not plug the holes?  Can
> I assume that these leads were removed for a legitamate reason or
> should I take the position now of not trusting anything and proceed
> from a point of "all bets are off" and strike a new deal with the
> group paying for this work?  Am I being too paranoid?
> 			perplexed in Ohio
> 
> 				Greg Newell 
> Greg and Mary Ellen Newell
> Greg's Piano Forte`
> Lakewood, Ohio 44107
> gnewell@en.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net