<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="Street"/> <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"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=black vlink=black> <div class=Section1> Dale,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> RE the DeWalt Recip saw for cutting out pinblocks. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Tom McNeil was kind enough to reply in depth to my private email. Here it is:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Hi, Nick –<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Please feel free to share with our colleagues on <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>, and CAUT List.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Good to hear from you!  Things are fine here in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Vermont</st1:State></st1:place>, and I thank you for the good wishes.  Here's hoping everything is well with you and that your air conditioning is holding up!<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> If I had a pinblock to excise, I'd take some photos for you.  But that's not going to happen right away.  A short vacation starts for me and Liz tomorrow, then seven action overhauls in a row!<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> The chuck for this saw is essentially two chucks in one.  One of the blade-receiving slots is central to the whole chuck, much like any conventional reciprocating saw.  But on this model only (DW304P) there is a second slot at a right angle to the regular one.  If you hold the saw by its "pistol" grip, this second slot is close to where the "front sight" would be.  For our purposes, the saw is held vertically with the pistol grip turned away from the stretcher.  The chuck slides along the top of the pinblock and the blade is close to the stretcher.  (I think that in an earlier post I said you could cut within an eighth of an inch from the stretcher. I'd revise that to say a generous quarter inch.  But no matter, it's closer than I dared cut with the chain saw I used to use!)<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> The actual chuck reciprocates within a guard shell of heavy stamped steel.  (And it's this shell that prevents the saw from being truly flush cutting.)  The shell is three inches long, flat sided, and smoothly finished.  This shell slides along the back face of the stretcher about where the front flange of the plate will be.  The gear housing of the tool continues in the same plane as this shell.  And the next five inches of the housing is covered in heavy rubber, almost as if the designer knew it would be running close to the exposed upper part of the back face of the stretcher.  If the piano is to be refinished, this rubber might be enough protection for the stretcher.  However, I like to tape thin cardboard (Cheerios boxes are great for this) along the back face of the stretcher to preclude any scuffing.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Reciprocating saws don't plunge cut into hard maple very well; so I drill a three-quarter-inch hole through the pinblock at a convenient starting place near the middle of the stretcher.  Then I can cut along the stretcher, say toward the bass.  When that cut is finished, I remove the blade from the chuck and install it facing the other way to complete the cut from the starting hole toward the treble.  Then the same saw easily makes cuts along the inner face of the rim at either end to free the old block.  A quarter-inch strip of old pinblock remains glued to the stretcher.  That's easily enough removed with a bit of careful chisel work.  Some more careful chisel work is needed to chop out the remaining ends of the pinblock in the corners.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> No, this saw doesn't have a "lock-on" feature on the trigger.  That might be nice I suppose, since I usually hold the trigger with my thumb for this work.  That would be a real bad arrangement if you were doing this work for any considerable length of time.  But following the procedure I've given here, the saw is back in its very nice case in about ten minutes!<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Please feel free to share with our colleagues on <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>, and CAUT List.<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> ~ Tom McNeil ~ <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Vermont</st1:State></st1:place> Piano Restorations VermontPiano.com <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">346 Camp Street</st1:address></st1:Street> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Barre</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">VT</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">05641</st1:PostalCode></st1:place> (802) 476-7072<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Nick Gravagne, RPT<o:p></o:p> Piano Technicians Guild<o:p></o:p> Member Society Manufacturing Engineers<o:p></o:p> Voice Mail 928-476-4143<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: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 1:02 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: More pinblock stuff - an alternate tool<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Nick   Did you buy this tool? & does it ride on the top of the block?   Thanks   Dale <o:p></o:p> <div id="AOLMsgPart_2_2f503ae5-0768-4c2f-9db5-e7cbd88cde96"> <div> <div> Dean and List,<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Thanks for supplying the web link for the DeWalt saw. I assume that the shoe of this saw, unlike that of an ordinary reciprocating saw, and due to its “flush cutting” capability is able to ride directly on the pinblock (not on the stretcher top) and still make a cut only 1/8” from the stretcher. Did I get that right? The photo of the tool found at the link below suggests bulk and girth that would not really allow that due to the height of the stretcher from the top of the block. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Also, does the tool have a “lock-on” switch? I like that this tool is relatively lightweight, compact and powerful; and if it indeed rides on the top of the block there is much to recommend it.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Specs from Amazon:<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <h2>Product Description<o:p></o:p></h2> <div> Amazon.com This is a solid, well-built machine. One great feature is the 4-position blade clamp allows for flush cutting and increased versatility for vertical and horizontal cutting operations. The blade clamp is keyless with lever action for quick and easy blade changing. The 10 amp motor has lots of power with a 1-1/8-i nch blade stroke and 0-2800 strokes per minute. The variable speed trigger provides precise control; there is a fixed adjustable shoe for depth of cut control. The included heavy-duty kit box makes this a great value right from purchase. Jodi Johnson From the Manufacturer For flush cutting capability, increased versatility, and less bending of blades, DeWalt's Heavy-Duty Reciprocating Saw Kit can't be beat. This kit features a 4-position blade clamp for inserting blades in two vertical and two horizontal cutting orientations. Ten amps of cutting power and a 1-1/8-inch blade stroke easily cut through thicker stock. A variable speed trigger operates from 0 to 2,800 strokes per minute to match the tool speed to the cutting application. A lever-action blade-changing system means faster blade changes and less downtime. Compact and lightweight at 17-1/2 inches long and just 7.0 pounds, this saw is fantastic for tight quarters. Your purchase includes a durable carrying case.<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div> Nick Gravagne, RPT<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> </div> <div> </F ONT> <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <a href="http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=48681-70-DW304PK&lpage=none" target="_blank">http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=48681-70-DW304PK&lpage=none</a><o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div> Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City> <st1:State w:st="on">IN</st1:State>  <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> <div> From: <a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org">pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a> [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org?">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf Of David Skolnik Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 7:44 AM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: More pinblock stuff - an alternate tool<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> I asked Tom McNeil if I could forward the following exchange to this list, in case it might be interesting to readers of this thre ad:<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Hi, David -   Well, we continued with the chain saw (maybe 100 pianos since you saw my demonstration) up until about a year ago.  Then I discovered a wonderful saw in the hands of a remodeling contractor.  That saw is a DeWalt Model 304P Variable Speed Reciprocating Saw.  Unlike any other recip saw I've seen - including several similar models from DeWalt - this one has a special blade chuck that allows "almost flush" cutting.  I can cut parallel to the stretcher (OK, "cornice" in S&S lingo) and about an eighth of an inch away from it with laudable accuracy and speed.  It's safer, quieter, easier and about as efficient as the chainsaw.  There's a variety of blades available for this saw; I prefer the DW4802, which is 5" x 6 tpi.   For now, the chainsaw is gathering dust!   ~ Tom McNeil ~ <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Vermont</st1:State></st1:place> Piano Restorations VermontPiano.com<o:p></o:p> </div> <div style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> David Skolnik <st1:City w:st="on">Hastings</st1:City> on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Hudson</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">NY</st1:State></st1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> </div>  <div id=u8CAD04D8236D301-1290-4E90> <div style='margin-top:7.5pt'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> </div> <a href="http://mapquest.com/toolbar?ncid=mpqmap00050000000010" target="_blank" title="http://mapquest.com/toolbar?ncid=mpqmap00050000000010">Get the MapQuest Toolbar</a>. 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