<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=windows-1250"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2627" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT face=Arial>New to the = list? A tech? </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT face=Arial>First: Use the = proper tool. If it is the standard, single slot regulating tool, you need to grind = the end until the screw eye doesn't dissappear when you put the tool on it. Make = it about half as deep as it is. There's a better tool but it's expensive.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT face=Arial>Second: There = is a pair of "dowel regulating" pliers that grip those buttons, but they are = expensive and seldom necessary so not a "first buy" tool.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT face=Arial> If you = have more than one or two broken, I would remove the whole rail (very carefully) = and replace all the screws--especially if they are rusty. But if it was only = your technique that broke them you may be able to replace the screws with the = action in the piano. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT face=Arial>"Unscrew" the = button. If the screw comes out, hooray. More likely the button will just come off. = Use a soldering iron or--my tool of choice--a Ronco mini-tech flameless torch--and gently heat the screw, not enough to scorch = wood but enough to break any rust bonding, etc. Use needle-nose or skinny = Vice-Grip pliers to remove the screw. Be careful not to put any sideways, bending pressure on the screw. If it comes right out, just replace. = If you get into trouble, you have two options:</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT face=Arial>1. Remove the = rail and drill a new screw hole very close to the old one. Some would say to = dig out the old screw, plug, and redrill. My experience in 100-year-old pianos? = You are likely to make the damage worse, like breaking the rail. Remember that = wood may be a little brittle with age, too. or ...</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT face=Arial>2. Use a = regulating button repair thingy. They aren't proper repairs for a nice piano, etc., = but they work.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=265004116-20042005><FONT face=Arial>Hope it helps. = Tell us a little more about yourself ...</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan R. = Barnard</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Salem, MO</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr = align=left><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On = Behalf Of </B>jonathan stuchell<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 20, 2005 9:06 AM<BR><B>To:</B> pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> regulating screws<BR><BR></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>   Hello = listers,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial = size=2>          &nbs= p;           What can be done about old regulating screws that break off  just = below the 'eye'   ?    They usually turn a = couple times then snap off.  The only option I seem to have is to turn = the button below ,  but it is hard to reach and I dont know of a tool = to use to do that.    This is a 1906 upright = player.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial = size=2>        JS</FONT></DIV><BR> <P><FONT size=2>--<BR>No virus found in this incoming = message.<BR>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR>Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.18 - = Release Date: 04/19/2005<BR></FONT></P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2>--<BR> No virus found in this outgoing message.<BR> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.<BR> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.18 - Release Date: = 04/19/2005<BR> </FONT> </P>