At 23:33 -0400 10/9/07, Ted Sambell wrote: >Thank you for your response, John. German silver centrepins have >long been used in this part of the world.Of course, it is not >silver, my understanding is that it is a high quality brass alloy, >probably nickel, as you suggest. I think most reputable technicians >frown on plated pins. I did have a good stock of all sizes of Schaff pins, which I liked very much. These are a very light golden colour and have a smooth rounded point. I keep meaning to order some more. Are they still the same? When I started in the trade the quality of pins available here was dreadful and I used a supplier in Denmark, but their pins were too hard and brittle. Finally pins arrived from Japan and these are fine. Having both Japanese and American sizes gives me a very finely graduated range of diameters. Schaff pins are probably of "nickel brass" or one of the coinage alloys rather than "nickel silver" or "German silver", which is less yellow in colour, containing more nickel. The Japanese pins are very white and silvery on the outside and more brassy on the inside. The exact composition of the metal would probably be difficult to discover without analysis. The fact is that those centres that are still good after 100+ years have plated pins, so these can't be all bad! Plating generally, though, is not what it used to be. I am just restoring the dampers of a French Herrburger-Schwander action on a 1900+ Bechstein. The damper springs are plated, polish up like new with just a rag and are as strong as when they were first used. > I have both of the tools you show, but on site I use the usual >repinning tool because it can be used to press the pins homeas >well.ÊTo avoid pushing the points through the far bushing I press >part way, relax and press a second time, so that the flange >straightens itself to line up the holes.I believe most technicians >do this. Yes. It's also important to take a second bite when decentring in order not to scuff the bushing on the entry side. When I push in the pin (with the nippers) I don't push it right up to the bushing but stop a mm or so short and then moe the nippers in to cut flush. This is to make sure that any change in the diameter due to the pressure does not affect the pin in the bushing. JD
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