Spring Rail

[John Ross]

Rather than push it into the slot, I much prefer to drill another hole, down the slot a bit. I then thread the end of the wire in, and pull tight. I then goes into the slot much easier, and tighter.
Then just glue, and add felt over the slots.
John M. Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Annie Grieshop 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2007 1:58 PM
  Subject: RE: Spring Rail


  It's a pretty straightforward task.  Here's how I do it:

  *  remove the felt and clean the rail (dampen the felt with water, vinegar or wallpaper-remover, which is also used in the next step)
  *  dampen the "top" of the rail (from which you just removed the felt) with glue-softening liquid of your choice, if necessary 
  *  pull out the old springs from the bottom (if the short end breaks off in the rail, you can push it up and through)
  *  stick new springs in the holes (be sure to match the curve length of the old spring or you'll have problems later)
  *  run a coat hanger or other small rod through the "loops" of the springs so they stay parallel and steady
  *  clamp the whole shebang to the edge of your workbench -- curved ends of springs are down and curving away from you -- loops (and rods) are tightly tucked into the cutaway corner of the rail
  *  trim the ends that are sticking up to the correct length to fit in the slots (based on the springs you removed and/or the length of the slots)
  *  bend the trimmed ends over sharply and push/drive them into the slot with the edge of a flat screwdriver
  *  run a light coat of glue over the slots
  *  glue on new felt
  *  pull out the coat hanger rods (I forgot to do that once.... <g>)

  If this isn't clear, feel free to write me offlist.  I'm sure other folks can also refine this basic process and teach me some new tricks, as well.

  Annie Grieshop
  www.allthingspiano.com
    -----Original Message-----
    From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org]On Behalf Of Scott Rogers
    Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 11:13 PM
    To: pianotech at ptg.org
    Subject: Spring Rail


    Does anyone have any information about who may do vertical hammer spring rail overhauls? (replace all springs)
    Thanks, 
    Scott
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