why strings break.

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

HI again Clyde:

I see I was typing too fast. When I said I ... rarely have a string break
a string, I was refering to strings which jump over their own coils.

The comment about strings breaking at the becket has to do with strings
which were not inserted all the way into the tuning pin becket hole. In
time they work their way out. This was a more common occurence before
manufacturers began running the string out the other side of the tuning pin
(which is quite an annoyance and danger to blind piano tuners who have to
feel the tuning pins when they move the tuning lever). If the beckets 
are not fully closed during stringing, this can cause instability in tuning.

If a string breaks loose at the becket, it works best to completely unwind
the remaining coil and then form a new adequate length becket.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

Thanks for pardoning my unclear writing.

On Thu, 25 Feb 1999, Clyde Hollinger wrote:

> Don, 
> 
> MORE fascinating stuff!  I never had a string break a string, either.
> <G>  So now I sit here and ask myself how you can get away with having
> only three or so strings break in two years.  Maybe you don't need to
> deal with some of the PSOs I work on, ancient as the hills, rust, etc.
> 
> As for breaking at the becket, I question if I _ever_ had that happen. 
> Funny business, this!
> 
> Clyde Hollinger
> > 
> > Hi Newton,
> > 
> > My experience is somewhat different. I but rarely have a string break a
> > string (perhaps 3 in the last 2 years). It has been 4 years since a treble
> > string broke for me. The bass strings break more often at the beckett, for
> > me, than at the start of the coil.
> 
> 
>