Fw: Repair ? or Dump

[Newton Hunt]

Hi Joe,

You do not need to restring the piano.

First thing to do is to file the hammers, space them as perfectly as
you can to the current string spacings.  You will need this set up to
help duplicate the spacing of the strings when the job is complete.

Next carefully assess the string deflection angles of the strings
going from the v-bar to under the pressure bar.  You may not want to
replicate these angles but it is good to know what is present before
beginning.

Next lower tension about 3/8 to 1/2 turn of the pins (don't bother
with the bass).

Remove the pressure bar (a capo bar is a cast termination bar mostly
on grands) by removing as many screws as will come out.  

Get a screw extractor that looks like a steel tube (available in three
sizes).  This tool is made of VERY hard steel so don't drop it.  It
has saw teeth at each end that cut in the counterclockwise direction
so you need to use a reversible drill.  As the teeth cut away the wood
around the screw it will grab the screw and turn it out.

Once the screws are out you enlarge the holes to accommodate a plug of
hard wood you will need to cut with a plug cutter.  Redrill the holes
for replacement screws.

If a screw is tight against the plate you may need to drill small
holes around the parameter of the screw then knock the screw out
anyway you can, drill out the hole and plug it.

Look carefully at the situation to determine why these screws are
braking and try not to make the same mistake.

Clean, polish the lightly lubricate the pressure bar and the v-bar.

WIth everything set up with new screw holes and new screws place the
pressure bar over the strings and begin to tighten it down a little at
a time tightening each screw a little then the next and keep rotating
around to each screw until the bar is down to where you want it.

You will want about a 7 to 10 degree downward deflection of the string
coming off the v-bar depending upon how far the pressure bar is from
the v-bar.

Too far is when the strings to do not render properly through the
pathway.  Too little is when the string will bounce off the v-bar and
cause a buzz under a hard blow.  The purpose of the deflection is for
positive string termination.  Too much is as bad as too little.

Check the spacing of the strings as nearly as possible then tune and
recheck the spacing of the strings then retune.  It is likely that you
will need to tune the piano four times before it begins to stay.

This is not a difficult job, just time consuming and a royal pain in
the pin setting.

Think it through then go for it.  End result, a more stable and
tunable piano.

Have fun!!

		Newton