[pianotech] Pully keys

[William Truitt]

That's pretty sweet, JD.  I wish we could get plugs like your hornbeam ones
here in the colonies.

Will

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Delacour
Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 2:12 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pully keys

At 18:12 -0400 21/4/10, William Truitt wrote:

>You called me superfluous?!  Why, them's fightin' words!! :-)
>
>I will respectfully disagree that taking this small extra measure is
>superfluous.  I have done it without such guide punchings, only to find
that
>there was pilot error (no, I'm not talkin' about me!) and I did not get a
>straight line at the front. Small errors, but errors none the less.  The
>idea of using the punchings and glue is not mine, but I can't remember who
>to give proper credit to.
>
>I hope your method will give you the results you seek.


Well, I'm glad to say it did and there's not a fag-paper's difference 
in the key fronts (phwew!).

You can see the process illustrated, without comment, here:

<http://pianomaker.co.uk/technical/pully_keys/>

I forgot to take pictures of the final making of the hole.  Once the 
excess hornbeam stub is chiselled off the pilot hole appears.  I did 
the first few on the bench drill but deicided it was not the best 
way.  The pin is 3.7mm and I used a 3.58mm twist drill in a small 
cordless drill, with the key held upside down in the vice.  I ran the 
drill slowly and at first backwards to centre it well in the pilot 
bore.  Then forwards to finish the drilling through.  Finally the awl 
to smooth and burnish the hole so that it fits perfectly round the 
pin.

I am really pleased with the way the job has gone and thank everyone 
for their help.  I'm even more pleased since my principal in London 
thinks I ought not to work for nothing, so I might even get paid for 
this unforeseen work!

JD


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