<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Terry wrote:<o:p></o:p> John's method may work fine - I've never tried it, but I will next time. What I do is apply vice grips like I described above (not so tight as to deform the copper windings), unwind the few inches like John said. But then I pull the copper winding straight off the string - straight out parallel and on the same line as the core. If you play around with this a few times, suddenly you will find that you can induce this totally funky revolving motion of the core (it looks like an airplane propeller in motion in the shape of a cone) that increases as you pull harder but it lets the copper unwind extremely easy. I know I'm not describing the motion well - it's something that you have to experience before you know what I am talking about. But it makes using universals fun - it's a game I play when I use them. I know I'm making no sense - but try it - just pull straight out when you have thin copper windings - the core will automatically go into this funky motion - it's a hoot!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I use Terry’s method as well. First I use diagonal pliers to “cut” where I want the coils to stop. I do this by squeezing firm enough to cut the copper but not mark up the steel core and twisting the pliers around the diameter. This will usually cut the copper, but if not, it weakens it enough so that when the unwinding happens it will break at that point. Then I start unwinding off the end until I get the tail a couple of inches long. You can hold the other end with vice grips, I just lay it on the floor and put my foot on it. When the tail is about two inches long I stop trying to peel it off the core, but I continue to rotate it in the direction of unwinding. You’ll get the effect that Terry describes above. The whole winding will start to turn and loosen till it eventually makes its way down to where you’ve cut. When that happens it is loose enough to pull right off the end. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> For the hitch pin end you just have to unwind the whole length that needs to come off. John’s method is a good one.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Blessings,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Dean<o:p></o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Farrell Sent: Wednesday, November 01, 2006 6:31 AM To: Pianotech List Subject: Re: Universal Bass String question<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Hi Michelle - I've got a little bit of variations to Johns ideas - just thought I'd share.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> First and foremost, cut the string to length (couple inches longer than hitch-pin to tuning-pin) before unwinding any copper!<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> "Sometimes holding it with a pliers helps to keep the string stationary while you unwind the excess (Use the pliers above the place where it will break off.)"<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> I do the same, only I find that a pair of vice grips gently clamped exactly just above the place where the coil will break off works great. The copper wire is thick enough that it unwinds quickly. Using vice grips lets you concentrate on unwinding the copper.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> "On the ones with the smaller copper winding, I hold the replacement string loosely in the left hand, unwind 3-4 inches of the winding, then it's pretty quick unwinding by pulling with the right hand. (The string in the left hand rotates as the winding comes off - that's why you hold it loosely.)"<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> John's method may work fine - I've never tried it, but I will next time. What I do is apply vice grips like I described above (not so tight as to deform the copper windings), unwind the few inches like John said. But then I pull the copper winding straight off the string - straight out parallel and on the same line as the core. If you play around with this a few times, suddenly you will find that you can induce this totally funky revolving motion of the core (it looks like an airplane propeller in motion in the shape of a cone) that increases as you pull harder but it lets the copper unwind extremely easy. I know I'm not describing the motion well - it's something that you have to experience before you know what I am talking about. But it makes using universals fun - it's a game I play when I use them. I know I'm making no sense - but try it - just pull straight out when you have thin copper windings - the core will automatically go into this funky motion - it's a hoot!<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> FWIW<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Terry Farrell<o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <div> ----- Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='font-color:black'> From: <a href="mailto:michelle@cdaustin.com" title="michelle@cdaustin.com">Michelle Smith</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" title="pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech List'</a> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 9:43 PM<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Subject: RE: Universal Bass String question<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <o:p> </o:p> </div> Thanks for the info John.  I guess I’m going to have to grow some more muscles and get after it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Happy Halloween!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Michelle Smith<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabIndex=-1> </div> From: <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of John M. Formsma Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 6:41 PM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: Universal Bass String question<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> #5 is a big one, isn't it? I don't know of a way to do it fast except to unwind it quicker. :) Sometimes holding it with a pliers helps to keep the string stationary while you unwind the excess (Use the pliers above the place where it will break off.) On the ones with the smaller copper winding, I hold the replacement string loosely in the left hand, unwind 3-4 inches of the winding, then it's pretty quick unwinding by pulling with the right hand. (The string in the left hand rotates as the winding comes off - that's why you hold it loosely.) JF Michelle Smith wrote: <o:p></o:p> <U1:SMARTTAGTYPE name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><U1:SMARTTAGTYPE name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><U1:SMARTTAGTYPE name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><U1:SMARTTAGTYPE name="PersonName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></U1:SMARTTAGTYPE></U1:SMARTTAGTYPE></U1:SMARTTAGTYPE></U1:SMARTTAGTYPE>Hi all.  Yet another newbie question.<U1:P></U1:P><o:p></o:p> <U1:P> </U1:P><o:p></o:p> Does anyone have an easy/quick way to remove copper winding from universal bass strings?  I’m practicing on an old spinet here at the house and while I did cut some of the string off (winding and core), I still had to work for quite a while to get down to where I needed to be with the winding. (I was working with a #5 string.) Thanks in advance.<U1:P></U1:P><o:p></o:p> <U1:P> </U1:P><o:p></o:p> Michelle Smith<U1:P></U1:P><o:p></o:p> Smith Piano Service<U1:P></U1:P><o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">Bastrop</st1:City>, <st1:State u2_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">Texas</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <U1:P></U1:P>(512) 466-0238<U1:P></U1:P><o:p></o:p> <a href="mailto:michelle@cdaustin.com">michelle@cdaustin.com</a><o:p></o:p> <U1:P><U1:P></U1:P> </U1:P><o:p></o:p> <U1:P> </U1:P><o:p></o:p> <U1:P> </U1:P><o:p></o:p> </blockquote> </div> </body> </html>