Using the agraffe cutter

[Carl Meyer]

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Re: Using the agraffe cutterSomeone commented that they spray the =
agraffes with hi-gloss lacquer for appearance sake or to prevent =
tarnish.

Question:  Am I right to assume you do this after installation in the =
plate?  If before, wouldn't the tool ruin the finish when installing =
them?

Thanks

Carl Meyer




  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Overs Pianos=20
  To: pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 3:18 PM
  Subject: Re: Using the agraffe cutter


  List,


  I got a private email requesting further information on the use of the =
agraffe cutter, so I thought I'd post my reply to the list also for =
those who are interested.


    . . . .  Do you use it in a drill press or in a handle manually?


  We use two methods.


  The first and oldest;


  The drill is fixed to a bench vise to face the operator with the axis =
of the drill in a horizontal position and at about waist height, using =
an adapter I made for mounting the drill to the tool post of the lathe.


  A stop will need to be fitted to the shank of the cutter, to ensure =
that the cutter enters the string hole to the correct depth. Too little =
depth will not give the donut shape the correct profile (the string =
contact with the brass will be too wide). Too much depth will result in =
a sharpened inner string hole profile which will not allow the brass to =
withstand the string up bearing pressure.


  The drill is run at low speed only, since very little material is =
removed, and the faster the drill, the shorter the tool life of the =
cutter.


  We use a brass handle for holding the agraffes up to the cutter. This =
is made from a piece of 15 mm hex, free machining brass say 150 mm long. =
A threaded hole is cut in each end for a different kind of agraffe =
thread, eg. we have one with a 1/4 x 36 tpi in one end and a 7/32 x 36 =
tpi in the other. The body of the holder is tapered at each end to =
provide good operator vision, and the threaded holes are free bored such =
that the agraffe will only be held by a couple of threads. This allows =
for fast insertion and removal of the agraffes from the holder (This =
holder is also handy for polishing agraffes).


  With the agraffe in the holder, it is moved towards the cutter being =
careful to hold the agraffe such that the axis of the string hole lines =
up with the axis of the cutter. The holes are cut from both sides. After =
cutting the second side of agraffe holes, it is turned and the first =
three holes cut are just lightly cut again to ensure that no burr =
remains in the string hole.


  The second and most recent method.


  We now own a small three axis mill/drill with tilting head (which we =
purchased for making action models, but it's also very useful for other =
piano type small engineering jobs).


  The cutter is held in the mill which has accurate depth stop control. =
A small flat surface is mounted on the mill table, and set up as a =
backing for the flat of the agraffe. The agraffe is held with the holder =
as described above for the first method. The depth stop of the mill is =
adjusted to allow for the correct insertion of the cutter.


  The second method is by far the best. A small drill press could be =
used instead of the mill, but accurate depth control is more difficult =
to achieve with a standard drill press.


  Ron O










  --=20

  _________________________

  Website:  http://www.overspianos.com.au
  Email:      mailto:ron@overspianos.com.au
  _________________________

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