Restringing

Greg Newell gnewell@ameritech.net
Mon, 23 Jun 2003 20:21:40 -0400


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I have a rather simple loop maker that I purchased from the late Bob=20
Russell Sr. It is both simple and easy to use. It produces predictable=20
clean coils every time but is not without the possibility of gaffe's if=20
your not paying attention to what you're doing. I'll give a brief=20
description of it's construction. The body of it is from about a 1 1/2"=20
hardwood dowel with a hole drilled through it longitudinally. In that hole=
=20
is placed a brass sleeve insert through which ultimately the wire will pass=
=20
on it's way to the looping end. There is another hole drilled through it=20
tangentially(?) which has a key pin ( I think) going all the way through=20
and protruding out each side to act as a handle to turn the dowel around=20
the string passing through it. At the business end is a small tack or nail=
=20
with a head driven in to one side of the brass sleeve. To use, all one does=
=20
is to pass the string through the sleeve and out the other side. Using=20
round jawed pliers make a loop in the string. Put the end of the loop=20
against and under the nail head and slowly rotate the tool making the=20
string end rotate around and thus giving you the coils. The only problem I=
=20
ever have with it is visualizing which direction to rotate the tool for the=
=20
desired outcome on the string. I like the tail to stop and rotate downwards=
=20
against the plate. FWIW, I hope this helps someone. If you need a picture=20
just yell.

Greg Newell



At 07:58 PM 6/23/2003, you wrote:

>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w =3D=20
>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word">
>Hi Dave,
>You have to practice a bit, trying different tensions. At first I used to=
=20
>break or weaken the strings as well.
>But now I find the loop maker works well.
>It really is a tool that practice makes perfect. (Well almost) :-)
>Regards,
>John M. Ross
>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
><mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca>jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:pdtek@mchsi.com>Dave Bunch
>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech
>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 8:36 PM
>Subject: Re: Restringing
>
>As far as loop makers go, I would warn someone new to this to avoid the=20
>loop makers with the crank commonly seen in the catalogs. They are good=20
>for nothing but breaking wire. With just a little practice, one can make a=
=20
>first rate loop by hand using nothing more than a nail in a vise. This=20
>will work fine for the 99% of pianos that have just one or two looped=
 strings.
>
>Dave Bunch
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net>Alan
>To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>'Pianotech'
>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 11:28 AM
>Subject: RE: Restringing
>
>Yes =85
>
>
>
>Not a complete treatise, but a few thoughts.
>
>
>
>First time, it will take you close to three 8-days.
>
>An experienced person can do it in about two days.
>
>I don=92t think it=92s fair for people to pay for my =93learning curves,=94=
 so I=20
>would bill the job based on, say, 18 hours.
>
>Take the job. Learn and earn.
>
>
>
>Critical things to have, purchase, or make-your-own =85
>
>
>
>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=
 =93dikes=94
>
>5.       Heavy gloves or, better yet, glass-handler=92s gloves
>
>6.       Eye=20
>protection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many jobs=20
>call for eye protection: Restringing SCREAMS for it. Wear industrial eye=20
>protection, the kind that protects from the sides,=20
>too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>7.       Band-Aids (Don=92t make your own.)
>
>
>
>Helpful things to have =85
>
>
>
>1.       A =BD=94 drive variable speed electric drill with =93pin removing=
 bit=94=20
>(see archives). =BC=94 drill will not do, doesn=92t have enough torque,=20
>especially at slower speeds and you don=92t want to spin the pins so fast=
=20
>that you set the piano on fire or, more likely, damage the holes.
>
>2.       New set of pin collars (depending). New hitch pin punchings,=20
>felts, braid, etc. (depending)
>
>3.       Tuning pin crank
>
>4.       Loop maker
>
>
>
>Look up in the archives or read Reblitz, etc., about measuring strings,=20
>marking where string sizes change, etc.
>
>
>
>Examine the piano carefully before you start:
>
>1.       Make sure the legs are secure and nothing is wobbly. 999/1000=20
>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=
=20
>small piano, get the owner or someone to help you lift off the lid and put=
=20
>it in a safe place.
>
>3.       Examine the pinblock and bridges very carefully. Discuss problems=
=20
>with owner. NOW is the time to make any repairs.
>
>4.       Note any problems or anticipated problems. Write them down. Have=
=20
>the owner look at them with you and sign the paper acknowledging the=20
>problems. Again 1/1000, but you don=92t want any arguments later. I would=
=20
>take a torque wrench and measure each pin=97or at least a good sampling=97a=
s I=20
>made the first tension reduction turns of the pin to make sure you spot=20
>any =93patterns=94 suggesting block damage or any pin holes that might need=
 a=20
>little epoxy, etc. Easier to do it now than to have to remove pins later.
>
>
>
>Have fun.
>
>
>
>Alan R. Barnard
>
>Salem, MO
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On=20
>Behalf Of Richard Strang
>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 10:14 AM
>To: pianotech (E-mail)
>Subject: Restringing
>
>
>
>Hello, all,
>
>     Piano restringing has always been a little out of my line of work, as=
=20
> I do not have a shop. However, I have a good customer that is requesting=
=20
> me to restring his grand on site, and I'm debating on whether I should=20
> accept the job or not. Any advice?
>
>
>
>Richard
>
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Greg Newell
Greg's piano Fort=E9
mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net=20

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