<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#d8d0c8> <DIV>I HAD HEARD STORIES FROM TECHNICIANS,WHO WORKED AT THE FACTORIES IN THE 30-50TH.. ON A FEW OCCASIONS THEY WOULD RUN OUT OF CERTAIN SIZES OF WIRE AND KEEP DOING STRINGING WITH WHATEVER WAS STILL IN SUPPLY.. I HAD FOUND A FEW  INCONCISTENCIES WITH WIRE SIZES AND IT CAUSED BRAKAGE IN THE FUTURE {PRESENT TIME}.ALSO,KEEP IN MIND,SOME SCALES ARE "HIGH TENSION"..BUT LOGICALLY,IN THIS AREA SHOULD NE #14..</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=collin.s@skynet.be href="mailto:collin.s@skynet.be">Stéphane Collin</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 11/16/04 10:52:50 AM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Measuring strings for replacement</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Cy and list.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I find this is an interesting topic (micrometer technique).  I find it difficult too to make accurate measures.  I do zero my micrometer each time I use it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I prefer measuring the string under tension, as I feel that the major problem with measuring a string is that you must obviously measure a straight portion of it, which, without tension, is quite tricky.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I use the cylinder anvil, in order to minimize, at least on one side, the surface of the anvil that will contact the string.  Like you, I do three or four measurements on the same string, always using the friction device, and wobbeling the micrometer while turning the device, so that the string can find it's way under the micrometer, and let read it's actual diameter.  I believe (but I am not sure) that errors due to minute string diameter variations are far less important than errors due to string not being perfectly straight under the micrometer anvils.  For this reason, I always choose the lowest value of the measures I made as the most probable one.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Even with this method, I found that my knowing of what diameter the string should have (following a rational string sheme) had much influence on the actual reading I do of it's diameter, which is no good, I believe.  Or maybe just opposite.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I hope to generate comments from more experienced fellows.  Anyway, do you expect a half gauge number difference with the desired one to be a real catastrophy ?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best regards.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stéphane Collin.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=741662027@theshusters.org href="mailto:741662027@theshusters.org">Cy Shuster</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 16, 2004 2:48 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Measuring strings for replacement</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Should I use the biggest size I've measured, assuming there may be stretching (especially because of the break), or do I need micrometer lessons?  (Hmm, I should measure the strings on both sides, in the piano...)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Thanks...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>--Cy Shuster--</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Bluefield, WV</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>