Weird tuning pin experience

[Farrell]

"So I gave him the old "whatever the buyer is willing to pay and you are willing to accept" answer."

That and between $2K and $4K, if, as you say, it looks real nice.

"do I have to get a set of 2/0's or look for a thinner sandpaper?"

I almost always use 120 with excellent results. A full wrap can increase torque up to around 100 inch-pounds. If I want less than that, I will use less than a full wrap.

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan R. Barnard" <mathstar@salemnet.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 5:40 PM
Subject: Weird tuning pin experience


Talked here before about the Chickering "Quarter Grand" I'm am trying to keep alive for a client... pinblock replacement not a reasonable, affordable option.

Pins are only about 20-25 in. lbs. torque.

Tunes okay, doesn't hold. Has DC installed 4 mos. ago.

Pulled pin and found it is a 3/0. Judging from the piano's history, strings' appearance and the pin size, I think this was restrung about 16 years ago by a piano store. If so, the pinblock was probably already showing its age then -- maybe they didn't want to jump to 4/0 for fear of making cracks worse.

Used #60 sandpaper shim, drove the pin partway in but stopped because it seemed EXTRAORDINARILY tight. Tried to back it out with tuning hammer--got a tuning head off that's been a permanent feature of the hammer for 3 years--but could not budge the pin! 

Finally used a ratchet wrench with the tip off my torque wrench and removed the pin with considerable effort. Replaced it with a 2/0 (sandpaper still in place) and drove it in. It now has about 75 lbs of holding torque.

Oh what a difference 0.004" can make. (Yes, I measured the pins.)

Now ... if we want to shim other pins, do I have to get a set of 2/0's or look for a thinner sandpaper? Try the veneer option? Take the piano off life-support? Set fire to it? 

Customer asked another funny question:"If I decide to sell it, what's it worth?" Well, the case is beautiful, it sounds okay (if tuned maybe 4 times a year, that is). I shaped the hammers and regulated the action--it's not perfect but plays quite nicely. Backchecks need new skins and regulating.

So I gave him the old "whatever the buyer is willing to pay and you are willing to accept" answer. But that seems like a rotten answer as it gives him no clue for a starting point. Well, I don't have much experience to help him, either.

ANYONE?

Alan Barnard
Performing CPR (Critical Piano Repairs) in Salem, MO