<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3268" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> <DIV>Years ago, I also discovered that pounding hard resulted in the string ending up sharp.  Sometimes, when a string won't render properly, I push down on the speaking length to force the equalization of all the string segments.  But I discovered that the string later comes up sharp.  I started thinking about this.  If you have increased the tension of all segments by pounding or forcing extra tension into the speaking length, all the non speaking lengths are going sharp as well.  Friction over the bearing points is going to prevent those segments from immediately affecting the speaking length.  Later, the string slides over the bearing points and affects the tuned string, making it sharp.  FWIW.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>Paul McCloud</DIV> <DIV>Service Technician for PianoSD.com</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.pianoservsd.com">www.pianoservsd.com</A> </DIV> <DIV>Created with free BlueVoda software:</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9">http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=dnereson@4dv.net href="mailto:dnereson@4dv.net">David Nereson</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 03/20/2008 12:08:58 AM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: for those on the fence about hearing protection..</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow"></FONT><BR><<I agree with you completly Phil, there is no such thing as "pounding too hard" unless you are breaking keys regularly!>></DIV> <DIV>(from a previous post; lost track of the author)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">I have to disagree with this.  There is such a thing as pounding too hard.  I used to pound really hard, and would occasionally break key sticks and strings, although many times, the keys had a weak spot in the grain, usually at the balance pin hole, and the strings were OK but the hammers were too hard.  Anyway, I would frequently find my tunings sharp when doing my final check, even tho' they were "right on" with the SAT as I was tuning, doing unisons as I went.  I asked the list about this, and someone replied that too-hard test blows can cause strings to drift sharp.  I have since lightened up my key pounding and have almost no incidence of tunings drifting sharp.  I haven't changed my tuning style in any other aspect, so I think that was it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">    --David Nereson, RPT</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT face="Arial Narrow"> <DIV><BR></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman">And pounding hard too often leaves you with strings creeping <BR>sharp when you quit, particularly when you're lowering pitch.<BR><BR>Ron N</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow">Or raising pitch.  Doesn't seem to matter, in my experience.  --D.N.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Arial Narrow"></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>