<html> <body> Harry, <x-tab>        </x-tab>I've used TuneLab since TLab97 and find it to be a great tool in the realm of ETD's. Nowhere is a better bargain to be found that provides, in my view and that of others, just as good a result as any of the other offerings. It is NOT the final judge of what is a good tuning but is a great tool to help get you there. It's the best unsung hero of the crowd IMHO. Greg Newell At 10:19 AM 6/24/2003, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Hi= all, Does anyone use Tunelab? I cant see myself being able to afford a SAT in the near future and would like an aid to the aural tuning I am doing now. Comments O wise ones! Cheers Harry     Harry Pickett   -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" eudora="autourl">mailto:pian= otech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf Of Richard Strang Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 8:01 PM To: 'Pianotech' Subject: RE: Restringing   I learned how= to make a pretty nice loop using  a pair of vise grips and a screw driver. I make a loop and clamp it with the vise grips, lightly of course, then stick the screw drive through the loop and twist 6 or 7 times. Comes out just fine for some of the clunkers I work on.   Richard <dl> <dd>-----Original Message----- <dd>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" eudora="autourl">mailto:pian= otech-bounces@ptg.org</a>]On Behalf Of Dave Bunch <dd>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 6:36 PM <dd>To: Pianotech <dd>Subject: Re: Restringing <dd>As far as loop makers go, I would warn someone new to this to avoid the loop makers with the crank commonly seen in the catalogs. They are good for nothing but breaking wire. With just a little practice, one can make a first rate loop by hand using nothing more than a nail in a vise. This will work fine for the 99% of pianos that have just one or two looped strings. <dd>  <dd>Dave Bunch <dd>----- Original Message ----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:tune4u@earthlink.net">Alan</a> <dd>To: <a= href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">'Pianotech'</a> <dd>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 11:28= AM <dd>Subject: RE: Restringing <dd>  <dd>Yes ... <dd>  <dd>Not a complete treatise,= but a few thoughts. <dd>  <dd>First time, it will take= you close to three 8-days. <dd>An experienced person= can do it in about two days. <dd>I don't think it's fair= for people to pay for my "learning curves," so I would bill the= job based on, say, 18 hours. <dd>Take the job. Learn and= earn. <dd>  <dd>Critical things to have,= purchase, or make-your-own ... <dd>  <dd>1.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">A pinblock jack <dd>2.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Coil maker <dd>3.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">2˝ lb sledge hammer (for fine= tuning and watch repair) <dd>4.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Real wire cutters, not pin= nippers or light duty electrical "dikes" <dd>5.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Heavy gloves or, better yet,= glass-handler's gloves <dd>6.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Eye= protection!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many jobs= call for eye protection: Restringing SCREAMS for it. Wear industrial eye= protection, the kind that protects from the sides,= too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <dd>7.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Band-Aids (Don't make your= own.) <dd>  <dd>Helpful things to have= ... <dd>  <dd>1.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">A ˝" drive variable speed= electric drill with "pin removing bit" (see archives). Ľ"= drill will not do, doesn't have enough torque, especially at slower speeds= and you don't want to spin the pins so fast that you set the piano on fire= or, more likely, damage the holes. <dd>2.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">New set of pin collars= (depending). New hitch pin punchings, felts, braid, etc. (depending) <dd>3.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Tuning pin crank <dd>4.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Loop maker <dd>  <dd>Look up in the archives= or read Reblitz, etc., about measuring strings, marking where string sizes= change, etc. <dd>  <dd>Examine the piano= carefully before you start: <dd>1.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Make sure the legs are secure and= nothing is wobbly. 999/1000 times this is no problem. The 1/1000th time, a= disaster can ensue. <dd>2.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Pull the lid hinge pins with the= lid closed. Unless it is a very small piano, get the owner or someone to= help you lift off the lid and put it in a safe place. <dd>3.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Examine the pinblock and bridges= very carefully. Discuss problems with owner. NOW is the time to make any= repairs. <dd>4.<font= face="Times New Roman, Times" size=1= color="#000080">       <font= face="arial" size=2 color="#000080">Note any problems or anticipated= problems. Write them down. Have the owner look at them with you and sign= the paper acknowledging the problems. Again 1/1000, but you don't want any= arguments later. I would take a torque wrench and measure each pin-or at= least a good sampling-as I made the first tension reduction turns of the= pin to make sure you spot any "patterns" suggesting block damage= or any pin holes that might need a little epoxy, etc. Easier to do it now= than to have to remove pins later. <dd>  <dd>Have fun. <dd>  <dd>Alan R. Barnard <dd>Salem, MO <dd>-----Original Message----- <dd>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [<a= href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org"= eudora="autourl">mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf Of= Richard Strang <dd>Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 10:14 AM <dd>To: pianotech (E-mail) <dd>Subject: Restringing <dd>  <dd>Hello, all, <dd>    Piano restringing has= always been a little out of my line of work, as I do not have a shop.= However, I have a good customer that is requesting me to restring his grand= on site, and I'm debating on whether I should accept the job or not. Any= advice? <dd>  <dd>Richard <dd>  <dd>--- <dd>Incoming mail is certified Virus Free. <dd>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (<a href="http://www.grisoft.com/"= eudora="autourl">http://www.grisoft.com</a>). <dd>Version: 6.0.489 / Virus Database: 288 - Release Date:= 6/10/2003 <dd>  <dd>--- <dd>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. <dd>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (<a href="http://www.grisoft.com/"= eudora="autourl">http://www.grisoft.com</a>). <dd>Version: 6.0.489 / Virus Database: 288 - Release Date:= 6/10/2003 </dl> --- Checked by AVG anti-virus system (<a href="http://www.grisoft.com/"= eudora="autourl">http://www.grisoft.com</a>). Version: 6.0.490 / Virus Database: 289 - Release Date:= 6/16/2003</blockquote> <x-sigsep></x-sigsep> Greg Newell Greg's piano Forté <a href="mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net"= eudora="autourl">mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net</a></body> </html>