<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2523" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#d8d0c8> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello Cy and list.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I find this is an interesting topic = (micrometer technique).  I find it difficult too to make accurate = measures.  I do zero my micrometer each time I use it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I prefer measuring the string under = tension, as I feel that the major problem with measuring a string is that you must = obviously measure a straight portion of it, which, without tension, is quite tricky.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I use the cylinder anvil, in order to = minimize, at least on one side, the surface of the anvil that will contact the = string.  Like you, I do three or four measurements on the same string, always = using the friction device, and wobbeling the micrometer while turning the device, = so that the string can find it's way under the micrometer, and let read it's = actual diameter.  I believe (but I am not sure) that errors due to minute = string diameter variations are far less important than errors due to string not = being perfectly straight under the micrometer anvils.  For this reason, I = always choose the lowest value of the measures I made as the most probable one.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Even with this method, I found that my = knowing of what diameter the string should have (following a rational string = sheme) had much influence on the actual reading I do of it's diameter, which is = no good, I believe.  Or maybe just opposite.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I hope to generate comments from more = experienced fellows.  Anyway, do you expect a half gauge number difference with = the desired one to be a real catastrophy ?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Best regards.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Stéphane Collin.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=741662027@theshusters.org = href="mailto:741662027@theshusters.org">Cy Shuster</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 16, = 2004 2:48 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Measuring strings for replacement</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Should I use the biggest size I've measured, = assuming there may be stretching (especially because of the break), or do I need = micrometer lessons?  (Hmm, I should measure the strings on both sides, in = the piano...)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Thanks...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>--Cy Shuster--</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Bluefield, WV</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>