Friction and Balance pins

[Lance Lafargue]

Ed, et al,  
Please note that I put the drill bit in the T-handle BACKWARDS (smooth
round end in hole).  No wood is removed and you have accurate control with
a mic as to the amount of easing.  Usually we are easing very little and
need not worry about oblong Vs round holes. Works for me.  Very quickly. 
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

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> From: A440A@AOL.COM
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Friction and Balance pins
> Date: Thursday, November 12, 1998 9:37 PM
> 
> 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