<font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hi Joe,</font><br> <div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black"><blockquote style="border-left: 2px solid blue; padding-left: 3px;"><pre><tt>break all the top row of strings first.</tt></pre><tt></tt></blockquote></div> Do you mean break the beckets without lowering the tension? <div><br> </div> <div>Alan Eder<br> <br> <div style="clear:both"></div> <br> <br> <div style="font-family:helvetica,arial;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br> From: Joe Goss <imatunr@srvinet.com><br> To: pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Thu, May 12, 2011 5:35 am<br> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Removing Strings<br> <br> <div id="AOLMsgPart_0_3b863119-de82-4d60-a10d-1d8a68af525c" style="margin: 0px;font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif;font-size: 12px;color: #000;background-color: #fff;"> <pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>If you are concerned about letting down the tension, break all the top row of strings first. Joe Goss BSMusEd MMusEd RPT <a href="mailto:imatunr@srvinet.com">imatunr@srvinet.com</a> <a href="http://www.mothergoosetools.com" target="_blank">www.mothergoosetools.com</a> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Duaine Hechler" <<a href="mailto:dahechler@att.net">dahechler@att.net</a>> To: <<a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a>> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2011 9:12 AM Subject: Re: [pianotech] Removing Strings A couple of times, I've been asked to destring old uprights. After taking down the tension, cut the string before it does in the capo bar. Then I take a pair of vice-grips and pull on the string - in an unwinding motion - and voila the string is out. Sometimes I do have a little trouble getting the string out of the becket hole. In taking down the tension, I've used my tuning lever - however - I'm going to order the pin driver that can go in a drill and use that next time. Duaine On 05/12/2011 09:08 AM, David Love wrote: > > You don’t need a becket breaker. After taking down the tension I often use > an awl or something similar to pry out the becket and then pull the string > over the pin with a string hook. A becket breaker is a bit faster but not > that much and then you have all those little end pieces to deal with. > > David Love > > <a href="http://www.davidlovepianos.com" target="_blank">www.davidlovepianos.com</a> > > *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 *Steven Hopp > *Sent:* Thursday, May 12, 2011 6:47 AM > *To:* <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> > *Subject:* [pianotech] Removing Strings > > I have been asked to de-string a Steinway grand. I don't need to be > careful for reasons of what they are doing with the piano after. I have > done this before but needed to be careful so the piano could be put back > in order. > > My question is would using a becket breaking tool be the fastest way to > deal with the coils and getting the job moving? Is there a way to do this > without purchasing the dedicated tool Schaff sells? Also are there any > safety concerns? Do I need to follow any special order of sections or pins > to prevent harm to plate and myself? (I do need to keep the plate from > breaking :) > > Thanks for the help > > Steven Hopp > > Midland, TX > -- Duaine Hechler Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ Tuning, Servicing& Rebuilding Reed Organ Society Member Florissant, MO 63034 (314) 838-5587 <a href="mailto:dahechler@att.net">dahechler@att.net</a> <a href="http://www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com" target="_blank">www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com</a> -- Home& Business user of Linux - 11 years </tt></pre> </div>  </div> </div> </font>