[pianotech] Best Coil Lifter?

[Al Guecia/AlliedPianoCraft]

Gary, I have several good string lifters. A German made from Pianctek, another custom made that the stringers at Steinway use, but the one I use most is the one I made myself from an old bass string. I'll take a photo tomorrow when I go to my shop and I'll post it on the list.

Al - 
High Point, NC
  From: Amadeus Piano 
  Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 2:31 PM
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Subject: [pianotech] Best Coil Lifter?


  Can anyone recommend a coil lifter that fits well between all the tuning pins and that works well in general and is good and solid?

   

  I started with the Schaff #146 but the end broke and they replaced it with a #134, and the #134 is esp. difficult to get at the bottom of the coil when the pins are close.  

   

  And I've had a bunch of tools break recently, all purchased in the last year.  My Mannino hook dropped, hit the floor and broke at the weld; my Sciortino Insta-coiler broke at the hook/tip while using; my looping machine arrived with a broken hook tip, and the coil lifter (146) broke while trying to tighten coils.  Schaff has been cool about it, replaced the insta-coiler, the hook for the looping machine, and the coil lifter, but now I'm a bit gun-shy with these tools-they seem to break so easily.

   

  Looking around I see what might be good choices, but I'd love to hear what others use, what fits between all the pins, and what will last for a long while.  The ones with the wood handles look like they might work well, e.g., the #CL-8 at pianotek or the #3151 at Schaff.  The #146 worked fairly well until the tip broke off so I'm looking for something sturdier.

   

  I just finished restringing a Chickering Quarter Grand where some of the pins are really tightly configured and I can't get to the bottom of some of the coils on the center tuning pins.

   

  Thanks, Gary 


  AMADEUS PIANO

  www.amadeuspiano.net
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