[CAUT] shaping with loose screws

[Jim Harvey]

Wim,

I tend to follow the advice of many books, and my mentors, one of whom
always said that rule #1 was to tighten the screws, and rule #2 was to
make sure the screws are tight.

The theory is that by tightening first, you stabilize things, and, you
don't run the risk of having junk get between the flanges and the
rails -- in this case, hammer filings which could then (arguably)
influence hammer travel -- which will need correcting anyway if
they're that loose, whether tightening is first or not.

I might suggest that any traumatized centers should be treated as a
separate item.

On 6/12/07, Wimblees at aol.com <Wimblees at aol.com> wrote:
>
>
> I just shaped the hammers, tightened the screws, etc. on an old upright. I
> shaped the hammers before tightening the flange screws. (They were pretty
> loose). But is that what most of you do, or he other way around? My theory
> is that with a "loose" flange, there won't be as much side pressure on the
> centers as I shape the hammers. I am right with my theory, or will a tight
> flange hold the butt better, and not put pressure on the center?
>
> Wim

-- 
Jim Harvey, RPT
<harvey.pianotech at gmail.com>
<www.harveypiano.com>