<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2722" name=GENERATOR><BASE = target=main> <STYLE>  </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=EN-US vLink=blue link=blue bgColor=white> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=500202202-07092005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>As far as I know the only tests = done on this subject were by Lee Valley tools and WoodenBoat magazine. In general = they found that withdrawal strength was moderately higher with untapped holes.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=500202202-07092005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=500202202-07092005><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Del</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000080 2px = solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left> <HR tabIndex=-1> <FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>David Love<BR><B>Sent:</B> September 01, 2005 7:22 AM<BR><B>To:</B> 'Pianotech'<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: hex socket = bolts<BR></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial">Terry:</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Where did = you get the long hex bits and the red handled T driver.  Also, what size do = you drill before you tap?  Can these screws be driven in after the hole is drilled?  After all, I do press in new capstans, though the wood = in keys tends to be somewhat softer.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: = Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <DIV> <P><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy">David = Love<BR>davidlovepianos@comcast.net </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Tahoma = size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">-----Original Message-----<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of = </SPAN></B>Farrell<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, August 23, 2005 = 10:26 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> = Pianotech<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: hex socket bolts</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times = New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Arial = size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Well, as long as it is = show and tell time, I guess I'll jump into the fray! Below is a picture of the system/parts/tools I am using for plate support and adjustment. Pretty = much the same as Ron N and others, except I think I interject a little bit = of overkill for better sleep. As someone pointed out, often the original = screw holes are not very straight. So I just drill them out with a half-inch = bit and epoxy in hardwood plugs. Then I line up the plate properly and drill = nice straight holes with my overhead drill press. Then I tap the holes (tap = - with extension - is the long silver thing on top). I have a long hex = bit (lower right) that I chuck into an electric drill for most of the = screwing action. Then I use the red-handled hex-bit "T" driver for fine-tuning = the height. Three of the 4" x 3/8"-16 set screws are on the lower left. = The left most is bare, the center one has the thin nylon lock nut that the = plate sits on, and the right one has the acorn nut that goes on top of the plate = (I also put a ss washer between the acorn nut and the plate). This system = seems to work quite well.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times = New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: = 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=Arial = size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Terry Farrell</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times = New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: = 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face="Times = New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><IMG height=341 src="cid:500202202@07092005-0E1E" width=454 align=baseline border=0></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>