Restringing

[Dave Bunch]

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As far as loop makers go, I would warn someone new to this to avoid the =
loop makers with the crank commonly seen in the catalogs. They are good =
for nothing but breaking wire. With just a little practice, one can make =
a first rate loop by hand using nothing more than a nail in a vise. This =
will work fine for the 99% of pianos that have just one or two looped =
strings.

Dave Bunch
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Alan=20
  To: 'Pianotech'=20
  Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 11:28 AM
  Subject: RE: Restringing


  Yes .

  =20

  Not a complete treatise, but a few thoughts.

  =20

  First time, it will take you close to three 8-days.

  An experienced person can do it in about two days.

  I don't think it's fair for people to pay for my "learning curves," so =
I would bill the job based on, say, 18 hours.

  Take the job. Learn and earn.

  =20

  Critical things to have, purchase, or make-your-own .

  =20

  1.       A pinblock jack

  2.       Coil maker

  3.       2=BD lb sledge hammer (for fine tuning and watch repair)

  4.       Real wire cutters, not pin nippers or light duty electrical =
"dikes"

  5.       Heavy gloves or, better yet, glass-handler's gloves

  6.       Eye =
protection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many jobs =
call for eye protection: Restringing SCREAMS for it. Wear industrial eye =
protection, the kind that protects from the sides, =
too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  7.       Band-Aids (Don't make your own.)

  =20

  Helpful things to have .

  =20

  1.       A =BD" drive variable speed electric drill with "pin removing =
bit" (see archives). =BC" drill will not do, doesn't have enough torque, =
especially at slower speeds and you don't want to spin the pins so fast =
that you set the piano on fire or, more likely, damage the holes.

  2.       New set of pin collars (depending). New hitch pin punchings, =
felts, braid, etc. (depending)

  3.       Tuning pin crank

  4.       Loop maker

  =20

  Look up in the archives or read Reblitz, etc., about measuring =
strings, marking where string sizes change, etc.

  =20

  Examine the piano carefully before you start:=20

  1.       Make sure the legs are secure and nothing is wobbly. 999/1000 =
times this is no problem. The 1/1000th time, a disaster can ensue.

  2.       Pull the lid hinge pins with the lid closed. Unless it is a =
very small piano, get the owner or someone to help you lift off the lid =
and put it in a safe place.

  3.       Examine the pinblock and bridges very carefully. Discuss =
problems with owner. NOW is the time to make any repairs.

  4.       Note any problems or anticipated problems. Write them down. =
Have the owner look at them with you and sign the paper acknowledging =
the problems. Again 1/1000, but you don't want any arguments later. I =
would take a torque wrench and measure each pin-or at least a good =
sampling-as I made the first tension reduction turns of the pin to make =
sure you spot any "patterns" suggesting block damage or any pin holes =
that might need a little epoxy, etc. Easier to do it now than to have to =
remove pins later.

  =20

  Have fun.=20

  =20

  Alan R. Barnard

  Salem, MO

  -----Original Message-----
  From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On =
Behalf Of Richard Strang
  Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 10:14 AM
  To: pianotech (E-mail)
  Subject: Restringing

  =20

  Hello, all,

      Piano restringing has always been a little out of my line of work, =
as I do not have a shop. However, I have a good customer that is =
requesting me to restring his grand on site, and I'm debating on whether =
I should accept the job or not. Any advice?

  =20

  Richard



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