This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Before doing a big pitch raise, I always tighten the plate screws = first, especially on older pianos. Heck, even new ones often need the = plate screws snugged down. The ones that bug me are the verticals where = the bottom plate screws are not accessible because of the trapwork board = being right in front of them. If it's really flat and the other plate = screws are quite loose, I'll tell them I have to come back with my piano = tipper to tip it on its back, remove the bottom board, and tighten plate = screws. According to last month's Journal, the chances of breaking a = plate just from pitch raising is very slim, but I don't want to risk = anything. Besides, the tuning will probably be more stable if all the = screws are tight. In case you don't know, don't crank down on the nose = bolt nuts -- maybe just make sure they're snug. As for lubricating, I do it only if the strings are rusty or if = there's evidence of strings having broken in the past. Don't lube the = upper plate bridge, or bearing bar of the bass strings. Any liquids = that run down onto the widings will make them go dead. Elsewhere, I = suppose Protek or other lubes are fine as long as you don't use too = much. I've sprayed WD-40 into the cap of the can, then dipped a = toothpick into it to apply tiny amounts, rather than spraying anything. = But as someone else suggested, seating the strings on both sides of the = bridge helps to loosen any "set" or rust bond. And filed hammers, = minimum lost motion, and strong blows help to get the strings vibrating = so they'll "render" through their various bearing points easier (I = believe). And let the string tension down a wee bit before yanking it = up. "Yank" might be a bit strong, but I've had better luck letting the = string down the tiniest amount possible and pulling it up to pitch all = in one quick motion and with one blow of the key than with repeated = pounding and a slow pull up to pitch. =20 I do all the middle strings of the tenor and treble, then right-hand = strings coming down and left-hand strings going up, then the bass. = Everybody's got their own sequence. I've tried the "one big wave" = method of starting at the bottom and doing unisons as I go, all the way = to the top. It didn't seem any more accurate or stable than my other = method, and was slower. It's just a rough-in. You have to start over = and fine tune anyhow, and if it's coming up more than an eighth- or = quarter-step, it's not going to be a stable tuning for long. I just = tell 'em it'll hold better next time as long as it's done within a year. = They can't expect to let the piano go 5 years without tuning, then = expect a pitch raise and tuning to hold it for another 5 years! ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/d1/87/4f/d9/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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