Fred Sturm wrote: > How significant is this under what circumstances? More to the point, what indication do you have that either of these formulas you're using reflect reality? The Sanderson formula I gave you shows no change in break% with wire change. The Hays formula, from A Guide To Restringing, also shows no change in break%. Those who have done actual empirical testing say that, on average, the strings break at the same pitch. No, this doesn't mean precisely to 14 decimal places every single time, but on average, there is no statistical trend for the 0.001" smaller wire to have a higher tensile strength. I'll say it again in hopes that someone will refrain from telling me I'm forgetting it and attempt to inform me - Smaller diameter wire does, indeed have slightly higher tensile strength than larger diameter wire because of the change in the crystalline structure of the steel from repeated drawing through ever smaller dies. But this isn't evident in wire sizes 0.001" apart. The friction explanation from the tension change makes more sense to me than anything else I've heard, read, or devised myself. Ron N
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC