[pianotech] those pesky tuning pin bushings

[Dean May]

If you have someone hold a vacuum next to the bit going into the hole as was
shown in my previous picture you won’t have any problems with the bit
staying cool. It’s a lot less messier as well. 

 

If you were really organized about it you could devise a method of clamping
the vacuum onto the drill press so no helper is needed. 

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Anthony Smith
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 3:17 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] those pesky tuning pin bushings

 

I’m sorry, I drill at a 7 degree angle.  NOT 30.  

 

 

 



 

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Smith [mailto:tonythetuner at hotmail.com] 
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 1:07 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] those pesky tuning pin bushings

 

Hi Gene, 

 

Never had any bushings split on me.  I always fit and attach the block to
the plate first.  Then drive the bushings into the plate before drilling.  I
don’t drill by hand.  I cut the post of an extended throat drill press to
accommodate a plate that is on an upright tilter.  Clamp the drill press to
a piano dolly at a 30 degree angle. I can move from hole to hole making sure
I line up with the angle of the string for which I’m drilling.  Drill
through the bushing and the block at the same time.  I use 3-4 “jobber” bits
from Pianotek that correspond with the pins I’m using.  I have to let the
bit cool every few minutes but that ensures uniform hole size.  It usually
takes me about 1 ½ hours to drill all the holes.  Very efficient.  Always
had uniform pin torque.  It is a bit involved to get it set up initially but
once you have it, works like a charm everytime.  36 pianos and counting.  No
split bushings.  The drill press cost me about $225.  It can be found here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44846 

 

The great thing is that it doesn’t matter what size pin you are using.  It
always works, whether you coil the strings around the pins and then drive in
or if you drive in a little bit then string the piano.  Because you drill
the hole in the bushing matching the hole in the pinblock.  

 

Anthony Smith

Phoenix, AZ

 



 

-----Original Message-----
From: Gene Nelson [mailto:nelsong at intune88.com] 
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 2:00 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] those pesky tuning pin bushings

 

Hello list,

Does anyone have a technique to prevent most of the tuning pin bushings from
splitting?

I drilled the block outside of the piano, not a thought about bushings.

The way that I string, I coil the string round the pin and punch it into the
hole with the bushing in place.

Splits every time.

The bushing hole diameters are all 250 but the 2.0 tuning pin is oversize by
031

Drilling the bushings to match the tuning pins is tedious and still about
50% will split.

What am I missing?

Thanks for any help.

Gene

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