<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2873" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><SPAN class=828474520-17072006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Robin --</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=828474520-17072006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=828474520-17072006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I, too, use the screwdriver tips that fit into my tuning hammer. Very convenient. I have only been going after the hidden screws when I find that the accessible screws need more than just a nudge to tighten them up. And even then I've only gone for the ones that aren't totally hidden. Loosening the strings to get to those is something I just sort of didn't want to think about. Perhaps I should the next time I feel the need to get that aggressive.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=828474520-17072006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=828474520-17072006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I can honestly say I have never actually stripped one of these screws out. But I do find them stripped out occasionally. My first reaction when I find this is to wonder how anyone could actually strip out screws that are that big. And then I wonder if they might not have been stripped out at the factory level. I do find the occasional new piano with plate and action mounting screws stripped. Action mounting screws I can fix easily by gluing in a piece of wood, (NOT toothpicks). But, (see question 2), is that an acceptable way to repair stripped plate screws?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=828474520-17072006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=828474520-17072006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>-- Geoff Sykes</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=828474520-17072006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>-- Assoc. Los Angeles</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Robin Blankenship<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, July 17, 2006 12:54 PM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech List<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Plate bolt question<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Geoff,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm with David I. about that; don't sweat the understring ones....UNLESS you are noticing a tuning stability problem or unless you're finding the easy to reach ones obviously in need of a turn. In those cases, bite the bullet and loose just enough strings just enough to get the screwdriver onto the screw/bolt. More work up front but often less in the long run. I often use those big Phillips and flathead screwdriver tips that fit into the tuning hammer. I got for very snug, but not ridiculously so. No need to gratuitiously strip screws, LOL. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And, don't forget to at least look at and try to get to the plate screws at the bottom of vertical piano's plate. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robin Blankenship</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Matoaca, VA</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE 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=thetuner@ivories52.com href="mailto:thetuner@ivories52.com">Geoff Sykes</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:Pianotech@Ptg. Org">Pianotech@Ptg. Org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, July 17, 2006 1:18 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Plate bolt question</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006>Greetings all --</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006>I routinely check the tightness of plate bolts/screws. This includes those that screw into the pinblock. </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006>Question 1: How do you tighten the pinblock bolts/screws that are blocked by strings?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006>Question 2: What is the preferred method of repair when stripped bolts/screws are discovered?</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006>-- Geoff Sykes</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN class=187021417-17072006>-- Assoc. Los Angeles</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <P> <HR> <P></P>No virus found in this incoming message.<BR>Checked by AVG Free Edition.<BR>Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.10.1/389 - Release Date: 7/14/2006<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>