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<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> This brings up one of
my main complaints. After 300 years of the existence of pianos, or at
least 100 years of the existence of modern pianos (post-Industrial Revolution)
with many metal parts, screws, etc., there are still not available acceptable
tools for certain aspects of regulation, namely a dependable, durable,
fine-bladed screwdriver with a sleeve encasing the blade so it won't slip off
the screw. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> I have fine
screwdrivers on which I've thinned the blades, jeweler's screwdrivers
(that in some cases are too fine), a screwdriver from Schaff that's
supposed to fit drop screws but of course doesn't (the blade needs to be
thinned even more, plus they didn't keep the faces of the blade parallel), plus
several combination-handle type for the spade-type screws. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> I mean, how long have
these drop screws been around, and they still can't come up with a screwdriver
that works? A lot of times the screws haven't been turned in so long,
they're "frozen" in the wood and the screw splits or breaks when you try to turn
it. Or you have to press down so hard to keep the tool in the slot, that
when it does slip out, you gouge or break another part, sometimes splitting the
flange or the shank or gouging your knuckle on the remaining sharp end of the
screw. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> The so-called "finder"
screwdrivers (with the tubular sleeve) that do exist are WAY too
big and clunky. So you end up having to make your own tool or have one
made by a jeweler or machinist. You'd think the drop screws were just
invented last month and nobody has a tool for them yet!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> The spade-type drop
screws are SO much better that it's almost worth replacing the slotted ones with
spade-type, just so they can be turned without lacerating your fingers or
splitting flanges. But even then, sometimes old ones are frozen and the
tip just twists off. Like regulating screws (eye screws for let-off), no
amount of tapping or heat or Protek or penetrating oil seems to free them
up. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> Frustrating,
exasperating. And of course you forgot to try several before quoting the
price for regulating.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> But to answer your
question: yes, file down a small screwdriver til it fits, or grind it but
don't let it heat up and turn blue, thus losing the temper, or have a jeweler or
welder (?) braze the proper size tubing around a fine-bladed screwdriver, and
write, e-mail, call or otherwise communicate to suppliers to come up with one or
two or three different types that actually work.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> [Don't get me started
on certain back-check benders, spoon benders, and a few other tools that are
s'posed to work but don't, as though the piano just came about a few months ago
and we don't quite have the right tools for them yet.]</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow" size=3> --David Nereson, RPT
</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=pianodoctor@msn.com href="mailto:pianodoctor@msn.com">martin
cipolla</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 19, 2008 1:43
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Grand Piano drop scew
tool?</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>I was regulating a 1940 vintage Steinway S today and having
some trouble with the drop screws. My standard drop screw tool does not
work. (Hole is too big, wont grab the screw.) The screw has a slot in it
but so tiny I have no screw driver to fit it. Can it be there is a tool
out there I haven't bought yet? I ran into this once before on a Korean
Piano. Is there a tool that can help me.?<BR> <BR>Thanks,
<BR>Marty<BR><BR>
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