Piano wire tensile strength

PAULREVENKOJONES@aol.com PAULREVENKOJONES@aol.com
Sat, 25 Jun 2005 17:08:11 EDT


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In a message dated 6/25/2005 2:30:14 PM Central Standard Time, 
fandrich@pianobuilders.com writes:

> I just read something in an old report I've been looking at that strikes me 
> as
> odd. Basically it says that piano builders put as many as three or four 
> twists
> in bass strings to increase the tensile strength of the core wire. 
> 
> Does this ring any bells? Does anyone know of a piano manufacturer doing 
> this
> (twisting bass strings this much)? Is anyone out there metallurgist enough 
> to
> know if there is any validity to this claim?
> 

Del:

I've talked with only one older factory stringer (he's unfortunately dead now 
so confirmation isn't possible) who claimed that he put 3-4 twists in bass 
strings only to tighten the coils on the wire to avoid buzzing as the core 
stretched. Of course the tension on the coils will release slightly as well, but I 
can't figure how tensile strength (either overall or in the components 
--copper or steel) would be increased by twisting which shortens the wire and would 
cause the need for slightly lower tensions to account for the difference for 
pitch. Or do I have that backwards? The ductility of copper doesn't argue 
logically for higher tensile strength except for the stiffening that results from 
stretching a wire as in lead in stained glass windows which visibly stiffens 
when stretched; but that is not for tensile strength, more for shearing strength. 
The same observation would hold for steel as well?

Paul R-J

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