<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Listers</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What <EM>would</EM> we do without the = humble coat hanger wire? I've noticed on the list lately that there have been two = references to it. There's the amazing tip for keeping loops in springs straight = whilst "sewing" the loop in situ (butt springs) then earlier there was that = equally amazing "use once" tool for removing capstans. I always carry remnants = of coat hanger wire around for use as temporary hinge pins where the original = has been lost. Coat hangers come in varying thicknesses so I have a mini stock of = all I can find. Then there's the hook part of those plastic coat hangers.... = They're a different and stronger metal and they're good for sharpening the = end to a 'V' and using as a scraper to remove glued-in loop ends from flange = ears. Any other ideas out there?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards from Sunny Sussex and ... bird song...amazing. In-Word of the Day...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Michael G.(UK)</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=richard.ucci@att.net href="mailto:richard.ucci@att.net">richard.ucci@att.net</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=fishwar@bellsouth.net href="mailto:fishwar@bellsouth.net">fishwar@bellsouth.net</A> ; <A title=pianotech@ptg.org = href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, July 22, 2005 = 1:16 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: butt springs</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <P>Warren, Thanks for the great advice.</P> <P>Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano<BR></P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px = solid">-------------- Original message from "Warren Fisher" <<A href="mailto:fishwar@bellsouth.net">fishwar@bellsouth.net</A>>: = -------------- <BR><BR> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR> <DIV>Richard,</DIV> <DIV>Take the action out!  Half way work will always come back = to bite you on the posterior! Remember to control the sticker wires by = removing the keys first and at minimum put newspaper between the wires and the = rear of the keybed. A better alternative is a thin rope tied to the = action brackets and looped in front of the stickers and tightened while = pressing against the wires.  A pair of long forcepts helps to route the = rope around the brackets 2-3 times so they will stay tight while you go = on to the next section. Put each loop over the last to hold it tight. Use = a slip-knot on the last one to save you time removing.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Remove the spring rail by loosening the screws and lifting = it  between the hammers and the dampers.  Save and number any = spacers between the brackets and the rail. Put wallpaper solution on the = felt and use a small scraper to remove any remaining glue.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>There are two methods of spring attachment that I know = of:</DIV> <DIV>1. The springs are jammed down into thin grooves on = the back of the rail under the felt.  Use the flat edge of the point of = a pocket knife to pry them out.  Use a small thin-bladed = screwdriver to press new ones into the groove.</DIV> <DIV>2. The spring is inserted into one hole and then back into = another about a quarter inch away making a U in the wire.  This is the = easiest system to redo because you can use a needle nose to pull the loop up = snug in the mortice.</DIV> <DIV>Regardless of the type, you need use a two inch piece of = coat-hanger wire threaded through the loops to keep the springs from turning on = you to make a haphazard job.</DIV> <DIV>Before you re-insert the rail compare the angle of the spring = to the ones you took out and bend them uniformly to have the same = spring tension throughout. When you put the rail in have the springs = pointing up so they don't snag  and then twist the rail so that they point = between the hammers, then re-attach the rail.</DIV> <DIV>Good Luck,</DIV> <DIV>Warren</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Warren Fisher- Navy Retired - Slidell, Louisiana </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=richard.ucci@att.net href="mailto:richard.ucci@att.net"></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> 7/21/2005 7:43:15 AM = </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: butt = springs</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV></DIV> <P>Thanks Terry,</P> <P>Actually, I did not want to pull the action on this turkey. I = was toying with the idea of installing springs on a thin strip of wood = and then glueing it in place.<BR></P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff = 2px solid">-------------- Original message from "Farrell" = <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>: -------------- <BR><BR> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2668" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Alan, that was cruel and uncalled for. = Whitney, like all piano manufacturers space the butt springs one per = butt! (It's the butts that are randomly spaced!)   = ;-)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>That's all you get Rick until you give = us more information! R U replacing the spring rail for some reason? Or = just the springs. Perhaps this is the first time you have replaced this = type of spring? If so, you may just not be aware that the springs are = set into little holes in the spring rail - so no spacing efforts are = needed - just remove old springs and replace with new ones in original = holes. (You need to soak the felt to soften and remove the hide = glue...... oh no - was a Whitney glued up with hide glue or will it be some = ookey white crud.....?????)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>No doubt there is tons of info in the = archives describing this job. I know there is good stuff in the PTG = reprint articles - that's what I used the first time I did that job.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</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"> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Whitney spinet, eh? Just use the same random spacing the = factory used.... oh, wait, that was cruel.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>More seriously: Are these on a damper rebound rail in the = usual configuration? Is the rail still usable?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Actually, I guess I don't really understand your question = ... a little more detail, please ...</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Alan Barnard</DIV> <DIV>Salem, Missouri</DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV></DIV></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: = 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"><FONT size=2> <DIV> Is there a standard distance for spacing hammer = butt springs? I'm thinking of doing a gang replacement on a = Whitney spinet .</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks,</DIV> <DIV>Rick Ucci/Ucci Piano</DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>