Friction and Balance pins

[David ilvedson]

Yamaha makes an excellent tool just as you described for easing 
the balance hole.  I can't see any value in tight key pins.

David ilvedson, RPT

> From:          A440A@AOL.COM
> Date:          Thu, 12 Nov 1998 22:37:22 EST
> To:            pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject:       Friction and Balance pins
> Reply-to:      pianotech@ptg.org

> Greetings, 
>     I read with interest Lance's post inre sizing balance rail holes.  I would
> be fearful to use a drill bit, lest it remove wood.  I have been using another
> technique that seems to provide durability and ease of use. 
>     After de-bushing, ( with steam, which not only removes the felt but sizes
> the hole), I take a spare pin, of the original size, and hammer it out of
> round,( about .005-.010") near one end.  Then this goes into a pinvise for
> use.  
>        Coming in from the top of the key, I press the enlarged portion through
> the hole  so that the widened portion is in the balance hole with the major
> dimension across the key.  This eases the key more sideways than front to
> back.  If it is not enough, a quarter turn, back and forth will usually gain
> the clearance needed.   
>     Keys treated this way seem to be less inclined to "pully" after heavy use,
> and it is very consistant.  If you have a long enough pin,  you can leave the
> bottom 1/4" round and obviate the need to put it back on the keyframe to test
> for clearance.  
>     As a side note,  when I was at the Steinway factory for my "factory
> training week", J. Pramberger was in charge of production, and the balance
> rail holes were extremely tight.  I was told this was his idea for increasing
> repetition speed!  I found that it was not possible to get a really even key
> level, and measuring the aftertouch was difficult, since there was a strange
> feeling of resistance at the very bottom of the keydip.  Anybody else got any
> ideas on this?? 
> Regards, 
> Ed Foote
> 
> 
David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA
ilvey@jps.net