scaling problem

[David Love]

If it's already destrung and you can't take measurements, how do you know
that there are two different size strings on one unison?  All strings in a
unison need to be the same size.  I'm not sure exactly what the situation is
but you should make the correction in one direction or the other.  Try and
determine if the pervious stringer just put on the wrong size by examining
the number of hitches per string grouping in that area.  You can also add a
hitch pin for a single string if necessary.  

Should you decide to rescale, it's not a bad idea, there are several people
around who do it and it's not prohibitive.  All you need to do is measure
the speaking lengths and give the wire sizes you have for the plain wire
strings.  The method for measuring wrapped string lengths is usually to take
a measurement from the hitch pin to the bridge pin on the speaking side and
then the hitch pin to the agraffe or termination on the tuning pin side.
The speaking length can then be calculated by the difference and any good
scaler can calculate a wrapped string chart and scale from that data.  If it
is truly a learning experience piano, you will gain some knowledge by having
someone do the rescaling for you and you will also be able to solve the
current dilemma in an appropriate manner.  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of ed miller
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 7:35 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: scaling problem

I am restringing an entire piano for the first time.

I have encountered a unison with 2 different sized wires in it (sizes 15.5 
and 16). I am sure that this is the case (ie, this is not due to an 
incorrect mesaurement).

My question is....what are my options for restringing?

The piano I am working on is my own project for learning purposes. I am 
trying to spend as little money as possible (so I do not want to pay for it 
to be rescaled... besides, isn't it too late since I can't take approriate 
measurements with it already de-strung?).

Should I restring it the way it was? Should I add some single strings to 
make all unsions contain the same wire size within themslves? What 
else.....?

Thanks in advance.
Ed