Jeff wrote: >I tried twice to splice it and both times the wire broke where it crosses >the loop, just as I got it almost to pitch. Simple way to fix a broken string on the fly...have an S loop available in thick (2.5-3 mm) brass wire, long enuf to free up enuf of the borken string to get purchase at the tuning pin. Hook the S over the hitchpin, and the other end of the S in the hitchpin loop. >But we don't have a full compliment of replacement strings for our >instruments, and I'm wondering the same thing you are. Is there a source >for bulk wire we can use? We have altogether about 7 instruments which use >brass, phosphor bronze and iron wire, and maybe it's just the piano >technician in me being spoiled by having bulk wire available, but the way >our budget works, it would seem more prepared, and maybe more cost >effective to have rolls of wire handy. Yes of course. But you have to be crystal clear on what materials are used on the insturments. There's a big difference between brass, "iron" [i.e. soft drawn _steel_, e.g. Rose wire etc], and the uglier modern wiring materials like phosphor bronze. Need to do a bit of homework and find out. >One more question for the historical instrument pros out there. How much >thinning does this wire do in the stretching process and how much should we >allow when micing the wire for replacement? NO significant change in diameter occurs with stretching. So it makes no difference where and when you check the gauge. As for historical iron, you cannot buy any product which is the same as the old stuff. Everything currently available is mild steel. The wire targeted at historical instruments is the best compromise at the moment. This may change in a year or two - depending on the results of a research project we may be able to provide reproduction iron equivalent to the original material. Will keep you posted. Some info is available at my website: http://real.uwaterloo.ca/~sbirkett follow links to "historical materials" then "wire" then "article". Stephen Stephen Birkett Fortepianos Authentic Reproductions of 18th and 19th Century Pianos 464 Winchester Drive Waterloo, Ontario Canada N2T 1K5 tel: 519-885-2228 mailto: sbirkett[at]real.uwaterloo.ca http://real.uwaterloo.ca/~sbirkett
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