action bedding

[Kevin E. Ramsey]

    Hi, guys, (and gals).  I have a little trick that works in conjunction
with the technique that Terry is using that should help. The "lift and tap"
method works once you get the glides close enough to use it, but what do you
do when they're so far out that you can't hear a tap? What I do is to take
one of my business cards and cut it so that it just sits below the lip of
the key fronts. Then, I put it right in front of the center glide and back
the glide out. If the keyframe is bowed up, causing the front rail to knock,
you'll see the key go down towards the card. If that's the case, I usually
will back the glides off until I get no movement at the front of the key.
Then, using the card as a gauge, I will lower the glides back down starting
at the center glide and working out. As soon as the glide makes contact with
the keybed, you will see the front of the key start to lift, stop at that
point and go to the next glide bolt. After you do that, you know you're
close, and you can lift up on the stack as you tap on the glide bolts for
the final adjustment. Just takes a couple of minutes, and you don't have to
take the stack off or anything.
    On the new Baldwins, with the glides on the front of the keybed, I back
those completely off, then I bed the balance rail, then I will use paper to
bed the front rails. I still don't have to remove the stack.! Hope this
helps.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2001 6:09 AM
Subject: Re: action bedding


> 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
> >
> >
> >
>