key leads !! (supplemental)

[David Love]

Keith:

One other thing that needed to be kept in mind in this job is that the 
customer really did not want to spend any more than absolutely necessary to 
"improve" the problems, and there were many others that also needed 
addressing.  Key tops needed to be replaced, key bushings were worn or 
missing, back check leather needed to be replaced, hammers needed filing, 
not to mention the piano hadn't been tuned for 20 years.  So concerning 
myself with the general design of the action, or even a gram or two in the 
touchweight was not of primary importance.  Sometimes we can't work for 
large miracles, a bunch of small ones will do.

David Love


>From: kam544@flash.net
>Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
>To: pianotech@ptg.org
>Subject: Re: key leads !!
>Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 22:50:20 -0600
>
> >.The only issue at this point is whether I can find a 9/16" lead as
> >originally came out of the piano, or whether I will have to expand a 1/2"
> >lead to fit the hole...
> >David Love
>
>David, LIst,
>
>For some reason I got interested in your dilemma, maybe because I use to
>own a Hazelton Grand and felt it was a nicely made piano.
>
>So some information for you about using 1/2" leads:
>To get it to a 9/16" diameter makes the width change from  3/8" to 1/4"
>width.  Also a 1/2" lead weighs 14 + grams and a 5/8" lead weighs 21 +
>grams.
>
>Some basic math indicates you will be 3 grams shy per lead using a 1/2"
>lead, which will not return the piano to your customer's desired target.
>
>The alternative, in part, would be what Terry Farrell suggested:
>=====================================
>Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 13:11:09 -0500
>From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
>Subject: Re: key leads
>
>Or plug and use exact size/placement of lead (s) needed.
>======================================
>
>To truly achieve the target, you might be able to do one of two ways.
>
>1) Plug the holes, then take two 3/8" leads, each weighing 8 + grams
>equaling 16 ++ grams, which is very close to the desired weight, piggyback
>them, place them above the plug and measure DW (downweight) with gram
>weights.
>
>Then remove the 3/8" leads and determine where you can place either a 5/8"
>lead or a 1/2" lead, whichever you choose to use, to approximate the same
>DW readings.
>
>2) Or you could plug and install two (2) 3/8" leads side by side where the
>plug is.  That would probably be easiest as you wouldn't have to take DW
>readings.
>
>The only thing I can see preventing you from installing new leads using
>either of these approaches is if there are already leads in the keyarms
>that would prevent you from installing the new ones.
>
>Some other ideas anyway.
>
>Keith McGavern
>Registered Piano Technician
>Oklahoma Chapter 731
>Piano Technicians Guild
>USA
>
>

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