broken tuning pin

[John Ross]

If it is a grand, you might be able to drive it through.
On an upright, you could try to cut a slot, with a Dremel type tool, and use a screwdriver.
There are special pin removal tools. Basically a reverse threaded tip, that bites into what is left, and backs it out.
Then again, drill a hole from behind, that lines up exactly with the pin, and pound through.
I have never tried to drill a hole in the centre of the pin, and drill it out, but that also would be an option.
I think, since '75, I have only broken one pin, and that was at the becket hole. I was lucky, it came out with vice grips.

John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
jrpiano at win.eastlink.ca
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Noah Haverkamp 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 5:39 PM
  Subject: broken tuning pin


  it broke with a slightly jagged edge about 3/8 inch out from the plate. i tried tuning this piano a few weeks ago and basically refused because the pins were so tight (bad repinning job) that i was afraid of breaking my hammer, as well as reinjuring my never-to-heal broken collar-bone (which does surprisingly well considering the tuning stress: sometimes i think the tuning helps it, like, gives it some healthy exercise maybe). somebody managed to tune it, but i wasn't surprised to discover a pin broke in the process. 

  small vise-grip pliers could not grip it sufficiently. how the heck am i supposed to remove this thing?


  Noah Haverkamp
  Know-a Piano
  http://www.knowapiano.com
  347-308-0094
  Fax: 718-701-2071
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