Bent Tuning Pins

[Mike Kurta]

    Hi Clyde:
    The answer that works for me is the APSCO #16226 slender No. 2 extension
tip.  Its on page 4 of their catalog.  I ground mine down even further at
the business end of the tip.  Its a male-female tip so in use you need not
actually change the tip from the wrench.  Just slip the extension over the
pin, then use the lever as usual.  Works great.....
    Mike Kurta
----- Original Message -----
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 7:33 AM
Subject: Re: Bent Tuning Pins


> Friends,
>
> Every now and then I come to a tuning pin I would *like* to bend a
little -- the
> occasional pin in the midrange of a spinet or console that is too close to
a
> neighboring pin to get the tuning hammer on it solidly.  So far I have
resisted
> attempting to bend a pin, for fear I would damage the pinblock and cause
another
> problem.
>
> Yes, I know about the thin-wall tips.  But I haven't bought one yet, after
all
> these years!  And it also seems to me that not having to change the tip
every
> time I tune the piano would be preferable.  Has anyone deliberately tried
to
> bend a pin in the instance I mention here?  How do you do it without
making
> another problem, or is it always inadvisable?
>
> Regards, Clyde
>
> Richard Brekne wrote:
>
> > Oh you can bend them allright. The average tuning lever
> > certainly gives you enough leverage. Take a new one and
> > drill a hole in the closest telephone pole and screw it in,
> > then give it your best shot... you will bend it easily
> > enough me thinks.
>