ark
Welcome to the "club" of piano technicians.
Re your request for instructions on string replacement, I taught a "mini
technical" at one of our conventions and still have the handout file. I hope
this helps you out.
Brian De Tar RPT "NO OBSTACLES...ONLY OPPORTUNITIES!!"
BDeTar@aol.com
String Replacement/Repair
by Brian De Tar
May 90
REPLACEMENT; DOUBLE STRING
1. Remove action (if necessary) or tilt it back;
2. Remove broken string from tuning pin/pins;
3. Turn tuning pins out 1-1/2 turns;
4. Measure Wire to determine gauge;
A. gauge = diam. - 5 /2;
5. Cut a piece of wire slightly longer than needed; bend in half using hitch
pin or similar;
6. Place through agraffe or under pressure bar;
7. Place string on hitch pin;
8. Measure approx. 4 fingers from tuning pin;
9. Cut string to length;
10. On separate tuning pin, wind string 2-1/2 turns;
11. Remove from spare pin, place on tuning pin in piano;
12. Repeat for string two;
13. Holding string up with string lifter, put enough tension on string to
hold becket in place;
14. Repeat with second string;
15. Check to make sure strings are seated on hitch pins, routed through
bridge pins, becket is tight in tuning pin hole, and coil
is tight;
16. Pull up to pitch;
17. Reseat strings
A. to bridge and hitch pins;
B. squeeze string around hitch pin;
C. stretch string with wood, brass or soft steel;
1. between hitch pin and bridge pin;
2. speaking length;
3. between pressure bar and tuning pins;
D. lift strings on each side of agraffe/pressure bar;
18. Make sure strings are level and damper is seated;
19. Make sure coils are level (you should be able to see hole in tuning pin;
20. Fine tune.
SINGLE STRING REPLACEMENT
1. Using round nose pliers or hitch pin, make a loop;
2. Maintaining continuity with the rest of the piano, wind coils in same
direction;
3. Proceed as above from step #6.
STRING SPLICING
1. Use wire 1/2 size larger than broken wire;
2. Use vise grips to form loop on end of each portion of string
A. #1 clock-wise;
B. #2 counter clock-wise;
C. Make loops approx. same size as as wire diameter;
3. Make first loop on new wire and thread on broken string, then make loop on
broken string, slide tight;
4. Proceed as above from step #6.
WOUND STRING REPLACEMENT
1. Dead strings may sometimes be rejuvenated by twisting in the direction of
wrap;
2. Check for liquid contaminant on windings (silicone, oil or grease);
3. To get replacement, provide string maker with:
A. core diameter;
B. overall diameter;
C. distance from hitch pin to start of wrap;
D. total length of wrap;
E. wrap material;
F. single or double wrap;
4. Universal strings should only be used until a replacement string can be
installed;
5. On universal strings, remove wrap approx. 1/4" closer to hitch pin and
approx. 1/4" further away from agraffe or plate pins;
6. Proceed as in above from step #6.
PIANOTECH Digest 221
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Key cleaning
by Yardbird47@aol.com
2) humidity
by DAMPPCHASR@aol.com
3) Re: worn back checks &squeaky wippens
by Frederick G Scoles <scoles@Oswego.Oswego.EDU>
4) Re: commercial HCS
by DAMPPCHASR@aol.com
5) Re: worn back checks &squeaky wippens
by Newton Hunt <nhunt@rci.rutgers.edu>
6) Re: worn back checks &squeaky wippens
by Vince Mrykalo <REEVESJ@ucs.byu.edu>
7) subject headings please!
by johnsond@stolaf.edu (Dennis Johnson)
8) Cracked plates
by randyr@cuix.pscu.com
9) Re: re- fortepiano key "bushing
by Stephen Birkett <SBIRKETT@envsci.uoguelph.ca>
10) String Gauge
by drose@sask.maple.net (Don Rose)
11) humidity control
by drose@sask.maple.net (Don Rose)
12) Re: humidity control
by ATodd@UH.EDU
13) Re: humidity
by John Musselwhite <musselj@cadvision.com>
14) Re: humidity control
by allen@pengar.com
15) re- fortepiano key "bushing
by Allen Wright <Allen_Wright@qmgate.cc.oberlin.edu>
16) Re: re- fortepiano key "bushing
by Stephen Birkett <SBIRKETT@envsci.uoguelph.ca>
17) 4%
by drose@sask.maple.net (Don Rose)
18) Re: worn back checks
by johnsond@stolaf.edu (Dennis Johnson)
19) Re: worn back checks
by ATodd@UH.EDU
20) Knocking keyframe
by ATodd@UH.EDU
21) New Bridge Pins
by TLGreene@aol.com
22) Re Backchecks
by Kenneth Sloane <Kenneth_Sloane@qmgate.cc.oberlin.edu>
23) Re: Cracked plates
by Tunerguy@aol.com
24) re: urgent, help
by Vanderhoofven <dkvander@clandjop.com>
25) Re: Cracked plates
by David Porritt <dporritt@post.cis.smu.edu>
26) Re: New Bridge Pins
by David Porritt <dporritt@post.cis.smu.edu>
27) Re: New Bridge Pins
by Mark Story <mstory@ewu.edu>
28) Re: worn back checks
by Horace Greeley <horace@compadept.com>
29) Re: Cracked plates
by Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet1.buffnet.net>
30) Re: Knocking keyframe
by kam544@ionet.net (Keith A. McGavern)
31) BPS
by Colette Collier <73023.1551@compuserve.com>
32) cracked plate
by rwest@unlinfo.unl.edu (richard west)
33)
by JIMRPT@aol.com
34) Re: worn back checks
by djohn@skypoint.com (Dennis Johnson)
35) Re: Help, URGENT!
by Marniesqui@aol.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 1996 08:22:35 -0500
From: Yardbird47@aol.com
To: pianotech@byu.edu
Subject: Re: Key cleaning
>Allen,
>I've had negative experience with 0000 steel wool on keytops. It abrades
>polish on plastic tops, making them a satin rather than polished finish,
>which is a matter of taste. I would suggest checking with the customer
first.
>Another caveat- as an organ technician I have seen the loose steel wool
>fibers short circuit keyboards. I would not recommend using on Diskclaviers
>for example. Key polish from Yamaha or Cory works the best for me.
>
>Regards,
>Dale Probst
Nice post, Dale...Keith
==========================================
Nice postscript, Keith......Bill
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