<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII"></HEAD> <BODY id=role_body style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial" bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 topMargin=7 rightMargin=7><FONT id=role_document face=Arial color=#000000 size=2> <DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  David</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>    I'll get to the bench reg part but first This thread brings up the question where & one measures dip & with what does one use to do this. A dip block, a ruler? As long as I've done this work I've used a simple distance gauge that fits under the key. It's .375 in diameter.  It's a small piece of steel with a thin handle brazed to it. PIcs below . The cut out in the face of it fits right up into & against the pin.</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>   <IMG SRC="cid:X.MA1.1184249266@aol.com" style="WIDTH: 480px; HEIGHT: 360px" height=360 width=480 vspace=5 comp_state="speed" DATASIZE="44060" ID="MA1.1184249266" ><IMG SRC="cid:X.MA2.1184249266@aol.com" style="WIDTH: 480px; HEIGHT: 360px" height=360 width=480 vspace=5 comp_state="speed" DATASIZE="40909" ID="MA2.1184249266" ></EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM> My Dad made it 40 years ago.</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  It's easy to use,visual & quick. Just Insert the jig & if the dip is shallow, the key rises, indicating the need to remove punchings....again visual...quick.  If dip is deep...tap tap. The need to add punchings.  I don't sit at eye level to do this even at the piano.</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  Also the sharps...always a sticky wicket.  Again insert it under the white keys & see what's happening then correct it. The width of the gauge allows easy access between the white key pins to access the key pins to the sharps</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  Being a dip priority regulator I've always like to stay a bout a .390 dip.  SO I place gauge  under the key & tap the top of the key with my finger then  listen & feel for a slight .015 gap.  Or a single wrap of masking tape around the circumference of the gauge makes it zzzzactly.390. In that case the gauge should just slide in with no key rise or no tapping sound.</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>   For the bench part Eds suggestion of duplicating the keybed environment is good & possible to get close. My non -rookie shop helper Keith Roberts came up with a slick way to get very close on the bench. (been the re to long to be a rookie any more..darn)</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  HE/we uses the gauge to set dip on all the C notes sitting at the piano.  We then place the action on the reg bench & remove the stack. The keys fall down & rest on the punchings  Then we the use a straight edge set between our test notes. Using our test notes we remove or add punchings till he/we  a fairly straight line between test notes.  It's quick easy & any shop rookie can get very close. Then reinstall the action stack & keys in the piano & tweak further until it's dialed.   At this point I use the after touch feel I like.  Meaning it's just a tactile sense from years of doing this.  Or place a card of .040 or .050 on top of the front punching & then depress the key. If the dip/aftertouoch is right the jack should just begin to escape.</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  Make sense?.....yes..no?</EM></STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><EM>  Dale</EM></STRONG></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=Arial color=#000000 size=2>Does anyone have a reliable method of setting key dip (grand) on the bench<BR>so that it remains accurate when the action is moved back to the piano?  I'd<BR>sure love to retire from sitting down at eye level to the key bed.  <BR><BR>David Love<BR>davidlovepianos@comcast.net <BR>www.davidlovepianos.com<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" size=2 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="10"><B><I></I>Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations<BR>4721 Parker rd<BR>Modesto, Ca. 95357<BR>Shop 209-577-8397<BR></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Abadi MT Condensed" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Abadi MT Condensed" color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="12">Web site <A href="http://www.erwinspiano.com/">http://www.Erwinspiano.com</A></FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Abadi MT Condensed" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"> </FONT><FONT lang=0 face="Book Antiqua" color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SERIF" PTSIZE="10"><I><BR>Restoration & Sales of<BR>Steinway & Sons & other fine pianos.<BR>" Soundboards by Design"</I><BR></B></FONT></DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Get a sneak peak of the all-new <A title="http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour/?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000982" href="http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour/?ncid=AOLAOF00020000000982" target="_blank">AOL.com</A>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>