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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><STRONG><EM> Hi JD</EM></STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><STRONG><EM> Hey. I've been gone but Thanks for chiming in on
this & verifying what I've ben saying. I wasn't sure there was any
interest or perhaps It's use just wasn't clear.</EM></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>HOWEVER this gauge suffers from one obvious shortcoming and that is its
resolution to only 0.1 degrees, which might not sound much when you say it
quickly, but in practice is equivalent to a card's thickness (roughly 9 thou
or 0.22mm) at the string rest given a back-length of 5 inches (127 mm.), and a
very significant percentage of the actual range of angular deflection applied
in practice. As regards downbearing, an angular deflection of 0.1 degree
represents about 70 pounds-force at the bridges when applied throughout the
typical grand piano.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>From what I can see of Dale's device and gauge, even if his gauge stepped
(go no-go), as it seems to be, in steps of 5 thou, he is still able to measure
the angle with half the tolerance of the Wixey gauge, ie. to within 3' or 0.05
degrees. With a continuous wedge gauge it is possible to achieve even
better accuracy.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV> <STRONG><EM>This is correct. The thin brass wedge p[pictured
is in .05 increments & Is a handy tool from Dana
Masaglia. </EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> Since I'm usually only interested in net
bearing figure , this 25 cent jig does see it quickly &
nicely. It can also be used for a quick reference as the go no go tool as
you say. SO often I follow up on Estimates where another Technician has
stated that the piano in question had bearing as checked with the
Lowell gauge only to find after it's unstrung that it had none at all. My
caution to folks is beware giving these findings as absolute when bubbling
around. Unless you can see an overall net bearing with a simple
gauge such as this there likey is precious little bearing or crown in the
system being anaylized. Know what I mean?</EM></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>At 9:05 am -0400 4/5/07, Dale Erwin wrote:</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE cite="" type="cite">On a 5 inch string segment yielding a gap of
.065 thous (as measured with the gauge in the picture) reveals that there is
about 3/4 of a degree of residual net bearing. Now this is a new board
set up at 1 1/2 degrees. So I've squashed the board 3/4 of a
degree.</BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>In fact in this instance Dale's measurement could hardly be more accurate
since</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV> sine(3/4) x 5" = 0.0654"</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>but even supposing Dale is using a go-no-go gauge with 5 thou steps and
went to the 70 thou step rather than the 65 thou, the calculated angle would
be only about 0.05 degrees different. I've photoshopped Dales picture to
make it quite clear where the gauge rests, on the speaking length in front of
the pins.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV align=center><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA1.1178670431@aol.com" DATASIZE="21842" XWIDTH="100" XHEIGHT="100" ID="MA1.1178670431" ></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>That said, I'm sure Dale will agree that although this method is quite
accurate for measuring and demonstrating the angle after the event, it is not
the perfect method for setting up the angles before the piano is
strung.</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> Indeed. Spot on.</EM></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM> Dale</EM></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>JD</DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">See what's free at <A title="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" href="http://www.aol.com?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000503" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>. </FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>