[CAUT] Let-off dowel removal - and hammers, and backchecks

[McNeilTom at aol.com]

Greetings, Colleagues -
 
The few times I've needed to replace let-off dowels I've simply split the  
old ones from the wires using an 'anvil'
type garden pruner.  These are available from any hardware store for  about 
$15.  In the piano shop they can serve for decades.  Below is a  link to the 
Fiskars model sold by Lowe's; other brands may be equivalent.   (I also use 
these to split hammer tails to enable removing them from  shanks, same for 
backchecks to remove them from wires - only when  the old parts are to be discarded, 
of course.)  In all these  cases I apply the tool "end-on" to the part and 
split the wood with the  grain.
 
I would not ordinarily replace the wires.  (That's extra work.   And in the 
case of backcheck wires, having the bends already there is a  help; also, the 
wire on old Steinway backchecks is nicer than the  newer ones!)  If the let-off 
dowel mounting rail is separable from the  hammer rail, it is a very quick 
project while the rail is held in a bench  vise.  Otherwise, as others have 
said, easiest to do the let-off dowel  replacement while the shanks are off the 
action.
 
BTW, although I've not done this kind of work in years, splitting  works just 
as well on upright capstan dowels.
 
_Click  here: Power-Lever Anvil Hand Pruner_ 
(http://lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=77178-1078-91106980&lpage=none)  
 
~ Tom McNeil  ~
Vermont Piano Restorations
VermontPiano.com

346 Camp  Street
Barre, VT 05641
(802) 476-7072



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