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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Wow Mike, great idea. It's one of those "Why didn't I
think of that?".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Al Guecia</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title="mailto:mkurta1@comcast.net CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="mailto:mkurta1@comcast.net">Mike Kurta</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, September 04, 2008 1:10 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A
title="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org CTRL + Click to follow link"
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Re: grand hinge to rim screws stripped </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> Hi Jessica:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> Here's an old trick I learned
from a retired technician: Carefully unwind the copper winding from a bass
string keeping the circular shape looking much like a spring. Cut to
length and insert in the stripped hole and put the screw back in. Now the
threads of the screw have something solid to bite into. If one length
is not enough, two or three can be used. Depending on the looseness and
size of the screw, it helps to have different thicknesses of copper windings on
hand. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> I have used this method
successfully on stripped grand legs, music desks, almost anywhere. It
allows the removal and replacement of wood screws without enlarging the hole,
and will really hold the screw tight. The copper imbeds inself into the
wood and will stay there. This follows the same principle as
"Heli-Coil" thread inserts used in metalworking where the threaded hole is
stripped. Good Luck!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> Mike Kurta, RPT</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> Chicago
chapter</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>