List: Thanks for the responses on the hinge pins. I don't know how many long hinge pins I've pushed out of fallboard or lid hinges, introduced a few gentle bends into, lubed with VJ, and shoved back in (usually with the help of Vise-Grips and a tack hammer) to stop them from buzzing when playing. But I never thought to do the same to a short pin or to just drill out the hinge. It was also interesting to see the difference in total tension between a pitch level of 435 and that of 440, namely 800lb., or a 2% difference. 2% doesn't seem like a big enough margin to keep plates or soundboards from breaking, if they're already on the verge. But the 11% difference of being a half-step low does. 435 is only 5 beats low at A 49, and I routinely encounter pianos that are 7 to 10 beats beats sharp in summer and the same amount flat in the winter and think nothing of raising or lowering them, if required. But with most of them, I try not to alter the pitch too much, and let them "float". --Dave Nereson, RPT
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