Tuning pin drilling?

[Farrell]

You get all your tuning pin torques within 20-25 in.-lbs. - and you are 
complaining? I'm really just kidding - but gosh, that's not all that bad! I 
understand your question and I agree that it seems weird. I really don't 
know why that would be. I'm curious though - I usually use either a 
quarter-sawn 5-ply hard maple pinblock or the rotary-sawn Multilam 
hard-maple block from Pianotek (although usually with a Delignit cap) - 
don't you find the Delignit somewhat unforgiving? Just curious about your 
criteria for block selection.

Thanks.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message ----- 
> This has me baffled.
>
> I'm drilling Delignit blocks for tuning pins.  2/0 pins.  2 step hole, aka 
> Ron's
> 2 step drilling procedure, with
> modifications to suit my equipment and personality.
>
> Block on the bench on an adjustable beveled bed.
>
> 1st pass, drill hole @ 1/4" using a fixture I made which holds a 1/4" 
> drill
> bushing right up close and personal
> to the block to stabilize the initial hole and make up for the inaccuracy 
> of my
> press.
> 2nd pass with a slightly shy "I" bit (.271) which has a non-cutting 1/4" 
> pilot
> ground on the 1st 1/2"
> of the tip to center the 2nd pass. I dust the pins with rosin before 
> driving.
>
> Holes are nice and consistent as proved by consistent torques (130in/lb) 
> on .282
> mic'd pins.
>
> Here's the weird part. I mic the pins and am mostly only using the pins 
> that are
> either .282, or slightly light
> at about .281 or .2805.  When I drive both the .282 and the light pins the 
> light
> pins consistently torque at
> about 20-25 lbs more than the .282 pins.
>
> This makes absolutely no sense to me.
>
> Any ideas why this is happening?
>
> Jim I
>