[CAUT] Agraff levels

[lafargue at bellsouth.net]

At the beginning of this thread I was concerned about an Estonia with
tilted agraffes and uneven agraffe/string holes.  It was to the point
that I couldn't bend a string enough to compensate for good
string/hammer mating. I have seen this on other pianos, but not this
much.  
 
It would be interesting to know who makes agraffes and are the plate
makers aware of the importance of a level plane (duh, probably).  With
the increase in our world-wide market for parts now, I wonder who makes
them.  
 
The bottom line is that you cannot prep a piano to a high level without
this to lay a foundation on.  
 
 

Lance Lafargue, RPT

LAFARGUE PIANOS, LTD

New Orleans Chapter, PTG

985.72P.IANO

lafargue at bellsouth.net

www.lpianos.com <http://www.lpianos.com/> 

 <http://www.lafarguepianos.com/>  

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of
Fred Sturm
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 8:53 AM
To: College and University Technicians
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Agraff levels


I don't know where Steinway buys agraffes, but they now own Kelly Plate,
and they have upgraded that facility to install a computer controlled
drilling process. The spacing of agraffes in new pianos is MUCH better
in the past two to three years. I suspect the square of the holes (hence
lack of cant of the agraffes) is much better, too - I haven't noticed
much trouble leveling strings on the few new instruments I have
serviced. They used to have Kelly drill their plates. Bad idea.  
All that said, perfection of hole drilling in cast iron is iffy at best.
The unevenness of the material itself causes bits to chatter, at least
in my experience. It's not like drilling brass.


Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu



On Jul 17, 2006, at 8:04 PM, Willem Blees wrote:


It sounds like we're talking about two different issues. One is the 

level of the agraff itself, compared to the level of the of the plate. 

What you claiming is that the plane of the agraff holes are not level 

with the plate. Which could be caused by poor drilling, or that the 

counter sink of the agraff hole is not flat, which will cause the 

agraff to cant to one side when it is tightened. 




The other issue is the holes in the agraff, which is what I was 

referrring to. Although there might be very minute differnces in the 

plane of the holes compared to the top of the agraff, I think the holes 

themselves are level. 




BTW, does Steinway make their own agraffs, or are they outsourced?




Wim 

Willem Blees, RPT

Piano Tuner/Technician

School of Music

University of Alabama

Tuscaloosa, AL USA


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