[pianotech] re; spinet repetition problems

[Joseph Garrett]

Dean,
I too, have never put a set of Jiffy Leads ON a piano. I have taken a lot
of them OFF. I do have a use for them. I make bullets out of them! I do
Black Powder weapons. 
I completely agree with you in regards to the friction thang. However, the
reality is this, (when it comes to Spinets), The orignal design called for
the keys to be leaded. The darned factory bean counters convinced the board
of directors that the that was an unnecessary step, (read cost) and shoud
be eliminated! If you have ever run across an early spinet, (20's-30's),
they not only have Ivory on the keys, but they have lead IN the keys! AND,
they play beautifully!! They, still, don't sound very good but that's a
whole 'nuther thang.
<G>
Having said all that, I've found that the first thing to address is the
balancing of the keys, before you can INTELLIGENTLY proceed into the rest
of the necessary action repair and regulation work
That's my experience, (since 1973). Take it for what it's worth.
Best Regards,
Joe


> [Original Message]
> From: Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com>
> To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 1/7/2012 10:20:40 AM
> Subject: RE: [pianotech] re; spinet repetition problems
>
> Interesting, Joe. 
>
> FWIW, I have never installed Jiffy Leads on a piano, spinet or otherwise.
> I've taken some off after correcting the friction problem that prompted
> their installation by previous techs. My approach has always been to find
> and fix the friction problems- tight centers or bad knuckles, and
everything
> seems to work well then.
>
> Like I said, I was only reacting to the whole "fix it right" thing
equating
> to factory perfect, and that was mostly because of not enough coffee yet.
> :-)
>
> Dean
>
> Dean W May (812) 235-5272 voice and text
>
> PianoRebuilders.com (888) DEAN-MAY
>
> Terre Haute IN 47802
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf
> Of Joseph Garrett
> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2012 1:03 PM
> To: pianotech
> Subject: [pianotech] re; spinet repetition problems
>
> Dean said: "If Jiffy Leads are fully functional, do not take away the
> aesthetic look of
> the outside cabinet the customer sees, last just as long, AND SAVES THE
> CUSTOMER MONEY, why would they not be considered "doing the job right?"
>  
>  
> I'm sorry to sound snippy, but I grow weary of the mindset that it has to
be
> like the factory in order to qualify as doing it right. In my book, if it
> works well and saves the customer money, that is doing it right, and that
is
> how I want other people to treat me. "
>  
> Dean,
> I'd like to agree with you but the essence of "jiffy leads" is that you
> just screw them puppies on the ends of the keys and voila'! you have
really
> faster, better piano.....NOT! First the jiffies are too heavy!! Secondly,
> each key's balance weight is different. This is due to various widths,
wood
> densities, sharps vs naturals, etc.The method I use is a balance system
and
> a gram scale. I've found that a back weight of 1-3 grams will make the key
> settle on it's back rail and not increase the "touch" a noticeable amount.
> The end results is: you take the key out of the action rep. picture, so to
> speak and leave the repetition to the ACTION itself.<G> If the action is
> still "sluggish", then your next step is to repin. I think there was
little
> quality control of the S-2 parts that most spinets have. All parts pinning
> should be suspect imo. 
> Although, I too, like to be given the least expensive route to repairing a
> piece of my equipment, I've found that it is not always the long term best
> route.<G> Mostly I've found: "Cheap is just Cheap, it's not always the
> best"! One other thing: A large percentage of the existing spinets were
> made out of REAL wood and nice aesthetic designed cases. They are far
> superior to the POS's coming out of China, Indonesia, etc!! (BTW I HATE
> shiny black!!! buullaaaccckkk!<G>) So, what is the alternative to the NEW
> pianos? Fix the Spinets to work the way they were originally designed to,
> not how they came off the assembly line! It will be cheaper for the client
> in the long run and the client will not regret that route, imho. There are
> some spinets that should have NEVER been manufactured. Those should go
into
> the nearest land fill, imo....er Winter comes to mind<G>.
> Joe
>
>
> Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
> Captain of the Tool Police
> Squares R I