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<p>Seems like a good idea. When I drill the tray and lever I usually drill into the old leather using the impressions as my target. I'm trying to figure out if there is any reason why drilling into the wood would be better? The old leather is usually tacked in...advantage to going to the wood is no waiting for glue to dry...your approach does give you the opportunity to align it...</p>
<p>I'm retro-fitting a pitman tomorrow and I might just do that...shoe leather. <br /><br />David Ilvedson, RPT<br />Pacifica, CA 94044<br /><br /></p>
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<hr />Original message<br />From: "Mark Dierauf"
<pianotech@nhpianos.com> </pianotech@nhpianos.com><br />To: Pianotech
<pianotech@ptg.org> </pianotech@ptg.org><br />Received: 1/30/2007 4:50:41 AM<br />Subject: Re: Pitman<br /><br />
<p>I'm using 3/8" dowel with a 5/8" punching. Also, rather than drilling a shallow hole in the tray and trap lever, I use a roughly 1" square of 1/4" cowhide, with a 5/8" hole drilled through it, on both the tray and lever. I can position these and the new pitman, lined up through the hole through the keybed, until I get the straightest run. Then I mark their positions, remove the pitman and glue the leather blocks in place. An appropriate wedge under the tray acts as a clamp, and I use a spring clamp on the trap lever. Gluing the rough side of the lever with titebond, it dries adequately in a minute or so, and if I should screw something up I figure it will be a lot easier to remove the leather blocks than to un-drill holes in the parts. If you're dealing with an older Steinway with the 5/8" original pitman, it isn't even necessary to drill out the hole through the keybed.<br /></p>
<p><br />- Mark Dierauf<br /></p>
<p><br /><img height="290" alt="pitman capture block" src="cid:pitman end block.jpg@39112.8602786806.820" width="415" /><br /><br /></p>
<p>>List,</p>
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<p>>When retrofitting the pitman what size dowel and felt punching are people using? I have used 1/2" and front rail punchings but I'm looking at 3/8" dowel and 5/8" punching...</p>
<p>> </p>>David Ilvedson, RPT<br />>Pacifica, CA 94044
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