[pianotech] beginner's calibration question

[Piano Boutique]

Zoe,

Yes, it is important that the fork be at the temperature you are going to be 
using it.   Also remember, you want to take the same amount off each tine. 
Also, you can just use a wire wheel on a grinder, and you would be surprised 
how easy it will take off a little weight.

Good luck,

William



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Zoe Sandell" <yiddishtangofever at shaw.ca>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 3:20 PM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] beginner's calibration question


> Thanks John,
>
> My room temp is 20 degrees.  I wondered about the specifics of 
> temperature-
> certainly the manufacturers could not mean that the fork itself is 20
> degrees and not the room? As steel will always be colder than its
> surroundings- cannot recall the exact science behind the difference in 
> heat
> conductors.  I guess the underarm trick simply adjusts the fork enough to 
> be
> accurate?
>
> I wonder about the fork- I will take mine into a master tech- to do any
> filing- but this will likely be necessary.
>
> Zoe
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of John Ross
> Sent: December 28, 2009 12:12 PM
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] beginner's calibration question
>
> If you are sure that the fork is off, remembering that temperature has an
> effect on it, some people put it under their arm for a predetermined time
> before measuring.
>
> As a matter of interest, just how accurate should a fork be?        +/-
> what?
>
> The fork frequency can be changed with a file.
> I think I remember correctly, I am sure someone will correct me if I am
> wrong. :-)
> Take some off the tips to raise the frequency, and some off the inner part
> of the leg to raise the frequency.
>
> John Ross
> Windsor, Nova Scotia.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Zoe Sandell" <yiddishtangofever at shaw.ca>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 28, 2009 4:01 PM
> Subject: [pianotech] beginner's calibration question
>
>
> Hello,
>
> I have just completed calibrating my tuning device with NIST and the 
> Tunelab
> demo-.  When I call back the C5 500Hz marks as in tune- ie squares stay
> still- but my tuning fork reads flat at A440
>
> How then do I accurately tune the temperament octave to the tuning fork-
> knowing this discrepancy?  Get a new/better tuning fork?
>
> Thanks
> Zoe
>
>