> >I wanted to ask a question about tightening pinblock and rim plate >screws. I have been using a phillips and/or flat head screw driver bit >that you can fit into your tuning hammer. > >Thanks! >Brian Janey, Fallbrook, CA >San Diego County PTG Chapter > Hi Brian, I carry a big flat blade bit made for the old hand brace, ground to fit my hammer tip. For the big Phillips, I went to a local surplus and salvage yard (buys from the extensive local aircraft industry) and bought the biggest Phillips bit I could find. Cost around a buck. I took it home and cut it shorter, taking off the big hex shank end, and ground four flats tapered to fit my hammer tip. Finding that I also needed an intermediate size Phillips, I went back, found what I wanted, and modified the shank to work. That said, I'd like to caution you on the use of these tools. The act of tightening plate screws with each tuning is more destructive than it is beneficial. The seasonal humidity cycles swell the plate support dowels, blocks, or whatever, and crush them against the plate, giving the tuner the impression that the screw has come loose. The tuner tightens, the supports crush, tighten, crush, tighten, crush, etc. It's not really a fix, and actually causes future problems. It couldn't hurt to check the plate screws and bolts of a piano the first time you tune it, and snug them down as necessary, but it needn't, and shouldn't be done on a yearly basis. Also, tight = snug, not cranked down to where the head is deformed. Just a light pressure on the plate is enough. I've not seen any evidence that loose plate screws contribute to tuning instability, so there's really no reason to keep tightening them. Do the bench legs instead, they probably need it more. Ron N
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