Hi Todd and Wim: The pin block may be tight, but that's not necessarily the problem. If this is a modern Baldwin, the tuning pin holes are drilled through a small hole in the plate, and there is no plate bushing. The underside of the plate is relieved at the hole (wider at the bottom, narrower at the top) and unfortunately Baldwin was not always careful in fitting the block to the plate flange. The net result is that you will often see tuning pins binding against the front of that plate hole, and lots of binding friction between the pin and the plate. Jumpy, snappy, hard to control tuning pins are the result; along with a tuner muttering, cursing, and gnashing teeth. The best thing to do in this situation is to accept that suffering is part of the human condition, and try not to wail out loud every time you run into one of these. Will Truitt From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of wimblees at aol.com Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 1:35 AM To: toddpianoworks at att.net; pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Scary Experience Todd The snap you heard is the pin turning in the pin block. It has nothing to do with the string. Baldwin grands are notorious for having very tight pins, and they are a bear to fine tune. It just takes a lot of experience, and patience. Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT Piano Tuner/Technician Mililani, Oahu, HI 808-349-2943 Author of: The Business of Piano Tuning available from Potter Press www.pianotuning.com -----Original Message----- From: Matthew Todd <toddpianoworks at att.net> To: pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 4:59 pm Subject: [pianotech] Scary Experience So today I tuned a Baldwin grand that had rusty strings. The rust wasn't throughout the strings just in splotches along each string. When I got to the high treble I could not control the movement of the pitch as I was tuning and that was one of the worst feelings! When I wanted to turn the hammer a little bit, I heard a loud 'snap' and the pitch got away from me and went way sharp. I am assuming this is due the capo bar binding on the strings due to the rust? Anyway, what is the best approach to this type of situation? I am almost ashamed to say, but that tuning today was at best, second rate, only because I was kind of nervous about not having control of what I was doing and possible string breakage. Thank you, TODD PIANO WORKS Matthew Todd, Piano Technician (979) 248-9578 http://www.toddpianoworks.com <http://www.toddpianoworks.com/> _____ Listen to 350+ music, sports, & news radio stations - including songs for the holidays - FREE while you browse. Start <http://toolbar.aol.com/aolradio/download.html?ncid=emlweusdown00000013> Listening Now! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20081207/aae5d986/attachment-0001.html>
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