[pianotech] Screws

[Joseph Garrett]

All,
The last convention in Las Vegas, each attendee got their "packet". In that
packet was a piece of plastic, called a screw gauge.(on the gauge, it was
labled "Standard Screw & Wire Gage" AND "Metric Screw & Wire Gage"). Even
tho, the company that made these necessary tools spelled Gauge incorrectly,
(obviously, the spelling police were not present at the factory.<G>), this
gauge is the best I've found. It is thick enough to measure sheet metal
screws that have the threads all the way up to the head. I've found, over
the years, screw gauges to be an essential TOOL for what we do. These
Gauges are available from our Home Office or your local Hardware store, or
direct from the manufacturer. I strongly advise, All technicians to have,
at least one in their tool kit AND one in their shop, (if they have a
shop<G>). It takes up very little room and will become an integral part of
the way you do your work, believe me. Gee, no more guessing what size screw
that fell behind the piano!<G> On that note, I have a Steinway type lid
prop. It is made out of wood. I've inserted 1/2" magnets in varioius
places, on both sides of the lid prop. Since the large percentage of screws
in a piano are steel, the chance of misplacing those case screws just got a
lot less possible. BTW, since we are, by nature, very anal, let's all put
the same screw back in the same hole it came out of. This will lessen the
incidence of stripped screws, (not to mention a whole lot of other
problems.<G>) And, remember to turn the screw backwards when starting to
re-insert the screw, in the correct hole, THEN turn it in once it "clicks"
into it's thread groove.
Regards,
Joe


Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I