[CAUT] Which S&S replacement action parts?

[David Love]

I find the best method for getting precise and stable pinning is to
vigorously swing the hammer assembly while holding the flange after pinning.
That means you pin slightly tight and then with the flange held between your
thumb and index finger swing the hammer vigorously through it's entire
rotation at least 10-12 times.  You first experiment with different sized
reamers to determine just how tight the pin should be right after you insert
the center pin.  Swinging the hammer will polish the bushing felt (and maybe
heat it up a bit) and take off that last bit of excess friction without
leaving the pinning loose.  After that the friction seems to be relatively
stable.   

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of David
Ilvedson
Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 12:03 AM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Which S&S replacement action parts?

All modern Steinways after CBS have teflon impregnated bushing cloth?
Hamburgs are Renner and have the graphite...which is fun also...
I mentioned the same thing...I was thinking the previous center pin had been
buffed by the bushing cloth and lost friction.    
I am lubing the centers and pinning tight...I disregard the swing test
completely.   

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
Received: 6/27/2008 4:36:27 PM
Subject: Re: [CAUT] Which S&S replacement action parts?


>Hi Chris,
>	Yep, I have the same problem. Nope, I don't have an answer or a  
>procedure. It is definitely different to work with. The first thing  
>that really puzzled me was when I found that I could remove a pin, and  
>the same size pin would feel tight enough or even too tight (pushing  
>it into the felt by hand). So I tried reinserting the same pin  
>(Steinway pin, with the rounded edges). And, sure enough, the friction  
>had gone from 0 - 2 gm to 4 gm. Just removing and replacing it. I  
>guess the felt/teflon expanded while the pin was out. The friction  
>level went back to 0 - 2 gm overnight.
>	So what do I do? Mostly, they seem to stay firm (feeling the end of

>the hammer for wobble) for a good long time. If I get wobble, I repin  
>with the next larger size. I ignore friction measurements, as long as  
>it swings freely enough. Firm by feel and swing free is my only  
>parameter. I won't say I am comfortable with this exactly, but I find  
>I can regulate to the low friction okay (over the years I have got  
>pretty good with butterfly springs). I like it better than the solid  
>teflon, which always had/has too much friction if I just ream with the  
>prescribed size reamer, and too little friction if I use an  
>intermediate (.0005 above pin size as oppose to pin size to the .001).
>	I'm just out there trying to make things work, and it seems like
it's  
>easier to go with the flow than to fight it. And it seems to work  
>okay. So I have tried to alter my "inner imagination" to conform with  
>it.
>Regards,
>Fred Sturm
>University of New Mexico
>fssturm at unm.edu



>On Jun 26, 2008, at 8:41 PM, Chris Solliday wrote:

>> Fred, I have problems when reaming (hard to imagine that some need  
>> it with
>> free and firm and teflon) this cloth. Do you? I haven't found a  
>> really good
>> burnishing technique or sizing solution. Have you?
>> Chris Solliday rpt
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm at unm.edu>
>> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut at ptg.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2008 10:05 AM
>> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Which S&S replacement action parts?
>>
>>
>>> On Jun 25, 2008, at 7:47 PM, Barbara Richmond wrote:
>>>
>>>> I haven't worked on many newer Steinways with the low friction but
>>>> firm
>>>> cloth.  Actually, I have strips of it and I haven't figured out yet
>>>> how
>>>> anyone has determined that it is so firm.
>>>
>>> Hi Barbara,
>>> The felt itself isn't particularly firm. In fact, it might be on the
>>> spongy side. After the parts are pinned, the centers are dipped in a
>>> solution of a teflon-like substance. It hardens in the felt. Around
>>> the edges of the dipping baths, there is white substance where the
>>> solvent has evaporated and left the solids. It feels much like what
>>> you get if you let McLube evaporate.
>>> The firmness of the bushings comes from impregnation of the felt with
>>> the lubricating substance.
>>> Regards,
>>> Fred Sturm
>>> University of New Mexico
>>> fssturm at unm.edu
>>>
>>>
>>