Air Hammer

[Tom Servinsky]

Jeannie,
I wish I could respond as an expert on this matter. I just received my
nailer last week.  I had several questions on general maintenance of this
tool so I called the manufacturer.  The whole specialized head topic came up
when they asked me what I intended to use the tool for.  When I told him it
was for the piano rebuilding, the head tech quickly rattled my ear about
taking advantage of all the work Danair had already done designing the
perfect head.  They provided all the nailers for Baldwin several years ago
and were commissioned by Baldwin to equip them with a perfect setup.
Several years have gone by and they discontinued production.  Now all of a
sudden new interest in this tool as sparked the piano industry and they are
contemplating (either) making the head available or publish the drawings and
let us take advantage.  After talking with the tech, it sounded more like
the drawings would be made available as soon as he could find them.  The
tech I spoke with is Jim Markle.  Either way this is a win-win for the
rebuilders.
As to what to do with the drawings...head to your favorite machinist and
have them fabricate the head- or do what many of the techs have already been
fussing with, experimenting with different materials to make this work
perfectly.  As my original post stated, I'm extremely busy with work as it
is and I don't have the spare time to fuss with fabrication and
experimentation. I want the finished product ready to go.
Different strokes for different folks!  Otherwise I could have strung
several more pianos in the time it would take me to make the perfect head.
Tom Servinsky, RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeannie Grassi" <jgrassi@silverlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2001 5:52 PM
Subject: RE: Air Hammer


> Hi Tom,
> Thanks for responding.  Your original post mentioned a blueprint, but you
> didn't say what was wrong with the original tips and why they can't be
used
> as-is.  I'm so glad you explained about the difference between installing
> with the coil on the pin or not.  I put the pins in first without coils,
as
> I think Terry mentioned he does it, so I wouldn't run into a problem until
> later when I wished to even out the height with the coils now on the pins.
> Oops!  How much of a difference are we talking about here?  Can I simply
> grind the tip down myself?  Thanks for sticking with us on this.
>
> jeannie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
> Of Tom Servinsky
> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 6:57 PM
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Air Hammer
>
>
> Jeannie,
> The blueprint, I'm sure is not that necessary, as any one with shop
> experience can figure this out.  It's not rocket science..granted.
> However, my schedule is hectic as it is and I'm finding less and less time
> to set aside to fabricate this item.  I was planning on going to one of my
> favorite machinists and have him configure it properly.  I would like the
> tip to work perfect without having to fuss to much.
> As my Score adviser lectured me on....concentrate on the things to you do
> well and find others to fill in the gaps where you are weaker.   I'm not a
> great fabricator, thus  finding the perfect blueprint and handing it over
to
> a good machinist makes perfectly good sense ( and cents) to me.
> Tom Servinsky, RPT
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jeannie Grassi" <jgrassi@silverlink.net>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 11:25 AM
> Subject: RE: Air Hammer
>
>
> > Tom,
> > I was just about ready to order one.  My question a few days ago to
Terry
> > was with regard to the tip.  Now, if I have this nice blueprint, what am
I
> > to do with it?  (Be kind, folks...)  Are you suggesting having something
> > made up from this blueprint?  And how much will this little item cost me
> in
> > addition to an already fairly pricey tool?  Just trying to budget for a
> > change.
> >
> > jeannie
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
> > Of Tom Servinsky
> > Sent: Saturday, May 12, 2001 7:39 AM
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Re: Air Hammer
> >
> >
> > LIST,
> > I just spoke with Denair technicians with regards to the Palm Nailer
tip.
> > They are providing a blueprint drawing of the attachment made for
Baldwin
> > Co. at no charge.  At one time they produced the correct head for
Baldwin
> > and eventually stopped producing the part.  They basically said they
have
> > considered producing it again, especially now that their product has
> gotten
> > so much attention from the rebuilders, but rather they would send out
the
> > drawing or maybe even publish it on Pianotech.  For those in the same
> > position as I ( just bought the nailer and extremely eager to use it) be
> > patient and the drawing will be made public very shortly.  They have
> already
> > done all the homework making the perfect head...take advantage of their
R&
> D
> > department.
> >
> > PS...as a customer friendly company, Denair is tops on my list.  Their
> tech
> > staff is a joy to deal with.
> >
> > Tom Servinsky,RPT
> > Pianocraft of the Treasure Coast
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jeannie Grassi" <jgrassi@silverlink.net>
> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> > Sent: Friday, May 04, 2001 6:50 PM
> > Subject: RE: Air Hammer
> >
> >
> > > Hi Terry,
> > > What tip, or attachment did you use with your Danair Palm Nailer?
Does
> it
> > > come with something that will fit the tuning pins?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > jeannie
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On
Behalf
> > > Of Farrell
> > > Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 2:48 PM
> > > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > > Subject: Air Hammer
> > >
> > >
> > > Just tried out my Danair Palm Nailer #RN-16-8 for the first time
driving
> > > three tuning pins into a pinblock. Holy cow cookies! That thing is
> slicker
> > > than you-know-what!
> > >
> > > Often as I drove a tuning pin by hand (with manual hammer) into a bare
> > > pinblock, I could see the damage I did to the top of the hole as the
pin
> > > wiggled back and forth with each blow (hey, I'm a newbie!). I'm sure
it
> > > continued throughout the driving process. The couple pianos I have
> > restrung,
> > > resulted in acceptable (for me - I had low expectations), but far from
> > > perfectly uniform tuning pin torque.
> > >
> > > The three pins I drove into a bare pinblock resulted in 160 in-lbs.
> torque
> > > for each one. Not 150, not 170, but all three were like exactly 160
> > in-lbs.
> > > of torque. I had never done that before. Oh, boy, this has made my
day.
> I
> > > can hardly wait until after I finish restringing and start
> > chipping/tuning.
> > > Clearly, I am expecting fabulous results.
> > >
> > > Thank you Del Fandrich and Roger Jolly (and anyone else that
> participated
> > in
> > > that thread - I know there were a few) - I recall that both of you use
> an
> > > air powered hammer, and one of you recommended the Danair
specifically.
> > Man,
> > > you just drive those puppies straight down. I am just absolutely
amazed
> at
> > > what a difference it makes! Fast, easy, and NO tuning pin wiggling.
> > >
> > > What do you use as a guide for tuning pin driving depth control? On my
> > bare
> > > test holes, I used an one-inch-thick piece of hard maple with a
> 5/16-inch
> > > hole drilled in it. I placed the maple guide over the tuning pin hole,
> > > inserted the tuning pin, and drove it with the Palm Nailer until it
> would
> > go
> > > no further. That worked perfect - for a bare block. Now I need to
figure
> > out
> > > what to use when I am driving the pin through the plate into the
block.
> > What
> > > does anyone use? Something hard to physically stop the Palm Nailer
from
> > > going any further - or do you tape a stick or something to the thingee
> > that
> > > goes over the top of the tuning pin and just watch until it touches
the
> > > plate or whatever?
> > >
> > > Can we adapt this thing for bridge pins - or just way too much
> horsepower?
> > >
> > > Terry Farrell
> > > Piano Tuning & Service
> > > Tampa, Florida
> > > mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>