action bedding

[Farrell]

Hi Howard. I enjoy your posts - I can hear you saying these things when I
read them. You have such a delightfully serious - "I'm asking because I
care" - tone to your questioning voice!

I won't go into detail ('cause I'm still in the learning phase), but you
will get a number of posts on the following technique - it is the way to go.

You check the front and back rails by tapping with a rod to evaluate
contact - pretty standard. The trick is to develop a similar technique with
the base of the palm of your hand for the center rail. You reach in, placing
your forearm somewhat parallel to and over the center rail and tap in the
area of the glide bolts with your hand. Raise the bolt up until you hear
light knocking from your palm tapping (you know you are to high) then ease
it down until you just eliminate the knocking. There you have your glide
bolt just in contact with the keybed, in much the same manner as the
strip-of-paper test, but only much easier. When you get good at this you can
adjust your glide bolts in just a few (maybe two?) minutes - I know because
I have seen technicians other than me do it! I'm still working at it. I keep
slamming my hand on the center pins - ouch!

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Howard S. Rosen" <hsrosen@gate.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2001 7:38 AM
Subject: action bedding


> Hi everyone,
>
> Too often I am faced with an action that needs a straight forward
adjustment
> to mate with the keybed. The typical noise bothers me but not the
customer.
> In this scenario, the piano is usually of low quality and I feel fortunate
> to have taught the customer the responsibility of twice a year service.
So,
> I hesitate trying to sell work that he/she finds unnecessary.
>
> Often I do a little here and there repairs when I tune, as a service to my
> loyal customers. I'm talking about stuff that takes 5 to 8 minutes of
extra
> time beyond the tuning. But bedding an action will take a lot longer if
done
> right by removing the stack using paper strips under the bedding screws
etc.
> I choose not to do this if I'm not going to get paid for it. Is there a
> quick trick that you might suggest?
>
> I vaguely recall a class on this but since I am over 40, I tend to be
> forgetful. Something about raising the front of the action and inserting
> long strips of paper. Any help on this ?????? Thanks
>
>
> Howard S. Rosen, RPT
> 7262 Angel Falls Ct.
> Boynton Beach, Fl  33437
>
> hsrosen@gate.net
>
>
>