[CAUT] Knuckle Direction

Ron Nossaman rnossaman at cox.net
Tue Jun 1 19:11:19 MDT 2010


Jim Busby wrote:
> Nap. That's the word I wanted. Grain got the idea across.
> After seeing many pianos with it one way on one, the other
> on another, I agree. Doesn't seem to do diddly.

That's in line with my experience, but the nap with the letoff 
argument makes sense, if it is indeed noticeable by mortals. 
I've only replaced a couple of sets of knuckles without new 
shanks, so I don't have realistic comparisons. New shanks, the 
knuckles are what they are, and there are plenty of other 
sources of aggravation to be had without splitting that hair.

How about orienting the nap perpendicular to the shank? Why 
not? Something I've wondered a time or twelve, but never 
chased down (there've been other diversions), is how the 
surface nap relates to the stretch direction. Leather 
stretches in one direction. but not at 90° from that. Are 
knuckles covered "stretch" around the curve, or perpendicular? 
I know, I could (and will) look into this myself, but I'm 
tired at the moment, and curious what the state of the 
information is among the other worker bees, if any. This may 
be something everyone already knows, but I don't, and would 
like to fill in the hole. Any real information out there on this?
Ron N


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