Bridle Straps spring clip

[Steve Pearson]

Back when I was an independent tech, I tried all of the various methods, and in the final analysis, came back to doing it by the book.  Using a Hale hammer head extractor, I removed the backstop heads, & cleaned up the dowel with a hammer shank knurling tool...the cheap end-of-the-combination-handle type. Having established the correct length for the bridle tape, I then glued in the new tape, sans cork, clip or tack, and reglued the catcher onto the dowel.  I never found any pre-made ones the right length anyway. I honestly don't think it took any longer, and I was never ashamed of the results.
Steve

>>> "pianoman" <pianoman@inlink.com> 09/14/98 02:45PM >>>
Hi All,
At the risk of being disagreed with I beg to differ that the use of spring
clip bridle straps reduces the technician to names muttered under the
breath of someone else looking at the work.	I see no reason not to use
SCBS's if the catcher has no hole.  If you argue that it adds mass to the
action the answer is yes.  If you say it is an expedient repair rather than
pulling the backstops yes.  If you say that it doesn't work for long
periods of time and use and reduces the technician to a hack I say no. 
Neither does the use of cork tip bridle straps.	
	When I first was learning all this stuff, the common method was to drill a
small hole in the butt directly under the catcher dowel.  We had made a
little tool that the bridle strap fastened onto and we could premeasure the
amount that was inserted and glued in the hole.  When the glue was dry the
waste ends could be clipped off.  It took twice as long as using cork or
spring clip tapes and in the process of trying to drill that small hole
sometimes screwed up the catcher and or butt.  Did that ensure that the job
would last longer, no.
	So I am on the side that using SCBS or CTBS is just as professional as
going through all the trouble of removing every catcher and doing it the
long way.
	I wonder who decided that SPBS's was unprofessional and wrong and where
was I when that was done.
James Grebe
R.P.T. of the P.T.G.
 St. Louis, MO.
Competent Service since 1962
 Do what is right and do no harm
 Creator of  Handsome Hardwood Caster Cups and Practical Piano  Peripherals

pianoman@inlink.com