[CAUT] Mason & Hamlin agraffes

Fred Sturm fssturm at unm.edu
Wed Jan 9 07:51:54 MST 2008


Ah, _that_ radius. A compound, inverted radius to create an actual  
radius in the agraffe. Thanks. Brain not functioning at full capacity  
due to cobwebs accumulated over the holidays <G>.
Regards,
Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm at unm.edu



On Jan 8, 2008, at 2:23 PM, Alan McCoy wrote:

> Fred,
>
> The difference is the same as the difference between the profile of  
> a flat
> head wood screw with its 60 degree angled head going into the  
> straight shank
> on the one hand, and a bugle-headed screw like sheetrock or decking  
> screws
> where there is a smooth curve from the top of the head to the shank.
>
> Alan
>
>
>> From: Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu>
>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org 
>> >
>> Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:18:07 -0700
>> To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>"  
>> <caut at ptg.org>
>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Mason & Hamlin agraffes
>>
>> Hi Alan,
>> What does "radiused" mean in this context? I know what the PIanotek
>> one is like (have one), and would appreciate a more descriptive
>> account of the difference. Judging from the picture, it maybe has to
>> do with multiple cutting flutes?
>> Regards,
>> Fred Sturm
>> University of New Mexico
>> fssturm at unm.edu
>>
>>
>>
>> On Jan 7, 2008, at 12:21 PM, Alan McCoy wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Don,
>>>
>>> The reamer you have is probably from Pianotek and if so, it is not
>>> radiused.
>>> Than one actually has a countersunk-type profile. The one from MSC
>>> is truly
>>> radiused. If you are really into polishing after reaming, a faster
>>> way to go
>>> (than Revenko-Jones) is with a dremel and a polishing bit you can
>>> get from
>>> Wigets.com. It is a teardrop shape and a pink color and feels sort
>>> of like
>>> an eraser. Sorry I don't have the link here at school.
>>>
>>> The reaming can definitely be done in the home. Hold the drill in
>>> your hand,
>>> and also hold the agraffe in your hand and go slowly. By doing it in
>>> your
>>> hands there is give and you are much less likely to chew up the
>>> agraffe. The
>>> whole set can be done this way very effectively - reaming and
>>> polishing - in
>>> maybe an hour.
>>>
>>> Alan
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: Mark Cramer <cramer at brandonu.ca>
>>>> Reply-To: "College and University Technicians <caut at ptg.org>" <caut at ptg.org
>>>>>
>>>> Date: Mon, 07 Jan 2008 12:22:39 -0600
>>>> To: 'College and University Technicians' <caut at ptg.org>
>>>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Mason & Hamlin agraffes
>>>>
>>>> Actually no Don, I don't recommend the drill press. The bit can
>>>> grab and
>>>> make a mess (take my word, or do I need to send photo? ;>)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The bit will self-center in the hole, and I will suggest once more
>>>> that the
>>>> variable speed drill with slip clutch is the ticket. You want to
>>>> hold the
>>>> drill with a loose grip and light pressure, so that if the bit
>>>> should catch,
>>>> the impact is wasted, rather than transferred to the agraffe.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> i.e.: the bit needs to be able to "chatter" if necessary, to
>>>> prevent a
>>>> sudden calamity.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> So yes, you do need to remove the agraffe and be able to hold it
>>>> flat to
>>>> your work-surface. (my simple holding fixture works great, sorry  
>>>> the
>>>> description may be a bit vague)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> In any case, I agree this is not a comfortable repair to do on- 
>>>> site.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Good luck!
>>>>
>>>> Mark Cramer,
>>>>
>>>> Brandon University
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _____
>>>>
>>>> From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
>>>> Of Donald
>>>> McKechnie
>>>> Sent: January 7, 2008 11:41 AM
>>>> To: caut at ptg.org
>>>> Subject: [CAUT] Mason & Hamlin agraffes
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Mark, David, Ron & Ric,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for your replies to my questions. I just spoke to my
>>>> customer and she
>>>> has agreed to try replacing the strings on the note. If I can get  
>>>> the
>>>> agraffe out without any fuss I will try polishing the holes as
>>>> shown by Paul
>>>> in the March 05 Journal. Trying to use the reamer during in home
>>>> service
>>>> could get a bit dicey. It needs to be perfectly still, preferably
>>>> at a drill
>>>> press to ream correctly. Paul's point about the reamers leaving
>>>> striations
>>>> is a good one. The buffing method is more work but perhaps better
>>>> for in
>>>> home service. We'll give it a try and hopefully this will work for
>>>> now. She
>>>> has not complained of other notes having this buzz but I would bet
>>>> that will
>>>> come up at another time.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks again,
>>>>
>>>> Don
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Don McKechnie
>>>>
>>>> Piano Technician
>>>>
>>>> Ithaca College
>>>>
>>>> dmckech at ithaca.edu
>>>>
>>>> 607-274-3908
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>



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