[pianotech] String Kit - Traveling Light

[David Weiss]

I used to do that same method but I would consistently forget to reload
after repairing a string, so I went back to carrying 3lb reels.  I don't
travel by motorcycle so its not an issue.  

 

A few years back the Journal published an article about streamlined kits,
they interviewed a number of New York City technicians who travel by subway.
There were some good ideas in that article.

 

David Weiss

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Terry Farrell
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 11:26 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] String Kit - Traveling Light

 

I ride my motorcycle to most of my service appointments. I like to have all
the tools and supplies I might need, so I've worked at making my tool boxes
as small and as light as possible. One thing I've done recently is to make
up a minimal string kit. The kit consists of plain wire strings from 0.030"
to 0.043" that are long enough for up to a 7-foot piano. I don't service
many nine-footers, so the shorter strings are sufficient for 99+% of the
pianos I service ('course it's really only the larger strings that will be
too short on a big piano - smaller strings should still work on a big
piano). I carry three of the smaller diameter strings, two of medium strings
and one of each larger size. I loop them around into a circle about the size
they would be on those 1/4-pound reels the supply houses sell. I pack them
in small cardboard pack that are designed to be mailers for a CD.

Thought I'd share this idea for anyone interested in shrinking their mobile
string supplies.

Picture below shows the labeled packs, a coil of strings and a Velcro band
to bundle the packs up into one unit. Each time I use a string I mark the
cardboard envelope to remind me to add a replacement string.





Below is three 0.033" strings coiled up in the pack.





Below packs are bundled and tied together with a Velcro strap.





String bundles in my string replacement tool bag.




Terry Farrell

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