Capstans

[Greg Newell]

Roger,
    Thank you for the clarification! I'm also curious as to why it is loose in
the first place. Did I hear that there are folks installing new capstans with an
arbor press? Will this not cause them to be loose. Kinda like driving in a screw
with a hammer, no? How is there any wood left for the capstan to thread in and
out for adjustment? Did I misunderstand ...... again?

Greg

jolly roger wrote:

> At 02:12 AM 1/7/01 -0500, you wrote:
> >Roger,
> >    I remember reading somewhere that the leather in the hole approach was
> >better than the toothpick in the hole. From my own experience over the
> last few
> >years of trying it this does seem to be the case. The leather won't tear up
> >like the toothpick does. FWIW
> >
>  Hi Greg,
>               The question was,  How to effect a Temporary fix,  this I
> assumed to be fast and nasty. <G>
> It's a little quicker than the leather approach.  Leather is a very
> acceptable method.
> Capstan screws, unlike flange screws should be continuously adjusted.
> (Performance piano was mentioned) The only good solution long term in my
> book, is to plug and redrill.
> CA repair is a good option, but the capstan tends to jump and snap. This
> makes fine concert regulation a little more difficult.
> Fast and nasty, I have even used several thickness of flange travel paper
> in a pinch as a temp repair to plug a loose screw hole.
> Given the use of the capstan, redrill and plug is the best long term
> solution. The thread needs to be tight but turn smoothly for fine regulation.
> I wonder why the threads are loose in the first place? Too many
> regulations?  Poor quality key stick material? Or bad factory drilling.?
> It would be worth answering these questions, before plugging the old holes.
> If it is low grade material ( basswood), I'd be thinking in terms of using
> a fairly large maple plug. This could prevent the same thing happening in
> the future.
> Regards Roger

--
Greg Newell
Greg's Piano Forté
19270 Harlon Ave.
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
216-226-3791
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net