Bushing vs. bigger pin?

[Conrad Hoffsommer]

Jill,

>> What are pros and cons about using a bigger pin vs. a bushing to replace a
>> pin thats spinning the lever around.

>Your mention of a lever makes it sound like you're talking about loose tuning
>pins.  If the two options are a tuning pin bushing versus a larger tuning
pin,
>I'd forget about the bushing entirely.  I never used them, and the one time I
>saw one used the result was unsuccessful.
>Regards, Clyde


I agree with Clyde about 150%.  Tuning pin bushings are mostly cosmetic.
They do keep dust off the pinblock and slow the penetration of spilled
drinks in a grand, however.  

The bushings are cut out of dowels and so the grain orientation is parallel
to the pin.  The wood has far less compressive strength in this orientation
than if they were plugs cut out of a plank and thus afforded some endgrain
to the pin. Even if they _were_ made that way, I'd doubt you'd see any
appreciable benefit.

As the car commercial goes, "wider is better".  The only drawback would be
if this is _not_ an isolated loose pin.  Are there other pins in the
immediate area which are very marginal?  If you mark the marginal ones
somehow (like with chalk) do they form a row?  If so, a split is probably
present and placing an oversize pin there will be like driving in a wedge
and instead of one "spinner", you've got three {at least}. 

If a split seems possible, and the piano currently has no pin bushings, the
application of CA glue or other pinblock treatment of your choice will be
easier than with a bushing in place.

My $.02.

Conrad Hoffsommer
-Currently celebrating making the last payment on his pickup.