<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="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <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> <div class=Section1> Great tip, Bruce!<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Thanks<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 Bruce Dornfeld Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 11:57 PM To: pianotech Subject: Side lifting tops on vertical pianos<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div> I also no longer bother to pull out these hinge pins.  For a while I borrowed the soft pedal rod, but it is a bit too short and a pain to replace when the top is no longer up high.  Then I found out the perfect tool for this has been riding around in my car for years now: the sectional steel rods (Schaff part number 3339, new catalog page 55).  This four piece rod is screwed together to help remove spinet actions, for those actions with the holder for them cast into the bracket.  It may seem a bit flimsy, but it is about the same diameter or smaller than most of the side lid props.  It will fit the cup on the lid easily.  Most pianos will have a handy place for the other end where it will be secure.  One piano I work on needs a vice grip to hold the steel rods in place with no chance of slipping.  You can use only three of the four pieces, but all four gives about four feet in length which works very well for me.  This i! s one of very few tips I can claim credit, or blame, for myself.  I have been using this method on many pianos for a number of years now.  I make a note on my client records so I know it is a side lifting top to bring this in, since it is not part of my normal number one tuning kit.  If you already have one of these give it a try, I certainly use it for tuning a lot more than to remove spinet actions!<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Bruce Dornfeld, RPT<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <a href="mailto:bdornfeld@earthlink.net">bdornfeld@earthlink.net</a><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">North</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Shore</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Chapter<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>