<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="PostalCode"/> <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"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue id="role_body" bottomMargin=7 leftmargin=7 topmargin=7 rightMargin=7> <div class=Section1> What an elegantly simply tool. Thanks for sharing. Do you have a patent or can we make our own? J<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> <u1:PERSONNAME u2:st="on">Dean May</u1:PERSONNAME>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> <u1:PLACE u2:st="on"><u1:CITY u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><u3:place u4:st="on"><u3:City u4:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City></u3:place></u1:CITY></u3:City> <u1:STATE u2:st="on"><st1:State u5:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">IN</st1:State></u1:STATE></st1:State>  <u1:POSTALCODE u2:st="on"><st1:PostalCode u6:st="on"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</st1:PostalCode></u1:POSTALCODE></st1:PostalCode></st1:place></u1:PLACE><o:p></o:p> </div> <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 Erwinspiano@aol.com Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 11:11 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Regulating Without Specs<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div>   Hi Jon<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   Nice work.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   I have been doing something similar and a bit simpler) but along the same lines. (I'm simple).<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  I've been making and selling  tool called the Action Ratio gauge. Picture shown below.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     <img width=480 height=360 id=MA1.1202184645 src="cid:image001.jpg@01C867D7.7F1F0CB0" vspace=5 comp_state=speed DATASIZE=41803>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   A 6  mm foot is mounted to the bottom of the weighted wooden block. The chart on the back is used to instantly crunch the numbers you get when using it. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   How it works<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   Simply set the Action ratio gauge on the keys, which should be close to level. Then using a metric depth gauge I measure the hammer rise above the neighboring hammer.  Take the distance & divide by 6 & voila.... a very close action  ratio.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>    IE if the hammer rises 34 mm higher than it's neighbor, divide that by 6 (the thickness of the foot)this equals a 5.67 ratio on the chart. Not bad.  I can work with this. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   High numbers, say 6 & above, will always require a long 48 mm hammer travel & a shallow dip.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  I.E. <st1:place w:st="on">Baldwin</st1:place>'s.In this case  I know I've got work to do<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  Something in the 5.5 ratio range will usually be a 46 mm hammer travel & .390 dip.  (Steinways/others) <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   Measuring the sharps is done in the same way & the ratio will always be slightly different due to the key balance point & shorter leverage.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   The beauty of this gauge is that a tech can easily & quickly assess action problems in front of clients eyes in minutes & can inform them why the action is heavy/ light etc & the appropriate remedy. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>    I use the ratio information to determine which action parts I will choose when rebuilding. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   The Action ratio can be can be modified to improve function in essentially 3 ways.  Change the knuckle placement, move the capstan or ( These are the most common fixes) the key balance point can be relocated if replacing the keyset.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   Any numbers close to a 7 to will require new keys to truly make the action work. AMHIK.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   High numbers equal short dip Long hammer travel.  Low numbers the opposite.  High numbers (5.8 to 7 or more) require light hammers & lots of key lead to balance the action.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>    Ok now the real beauty is this. Low numbers (5 to 5.6sih) can tolerate more hammer weight & some lead can be unloaded from the key thereby reducing inertia. All pianist love this<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   On another note the first thing I usually do is look at the leading.  If there are lots of lead.  I already know the regulation & leading will be in a place I wont' like<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   I'm not a number cruncher so I needed this to be easier for me. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   Regards<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>    Dale Erwin<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>   John writes<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  Hello List,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> I'm writing an article about regulating pianos when you don't have specifications.  I'll paste in the simple nuts and bolts of it below.  I'd appreciate your feedback.  I know there are some setup caveats and pitfalls, and some other considerations, but rather than lay all of them out, I thought I'd wait and hear from you guys about what you see as strong points, weak points, yeah buts, and any other considerations.<o:p></o:p> </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <img width=480 height=360 id=MA2.1202184645 src="cid:image001.jpg@01C867D7.7F1F0CB0" vspace=5 comp_state=speed DATASIZE=41803><o:p></o:p> </div> </blockquote> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Dale Erwin--Piano Restorations 4721 Parker rd <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Modesto</st1:place></st1:City>, Ca. 95357 Shop 209-577-8397 Web site <a href="http://www.erwinspiano.com/">http://www.Erwinspiano.com</a> Restoration & Sales of Steinway & Sons & other fine pianos. " Soundboards by Design"<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p></o:p> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-top:7.5pt;text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> Who's never won? <a href="http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548" target="_blank" title="http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp00300000002548">Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music.</a><o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>