No Bushings/Tuning Pin Size

[Farrell]

Yesterday and today I drilled my 1/2" holes in the block for the plugs -
epoxied in half of them. The block on this square is solid maple with one
thin lamination on top. It is just so beautiful to see this gorgeous wood
that has sat there for 120 years, and likely more than 100 years before that
in a forest. Some pilgrim or Massachusetts area Indian likely tapped some
syrup from the tree 200 years ago! I love old things.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ralph & Frances Thorn" <pianoralph@sympatico.ca>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2001 8:56 AM
Subject: Re: No Bushings/Tuning Pin Size


> Terry,
> You're lucky to be avoiding squares.  Try to stick to that plan - life
> will be easier!  Old instruments do spice up things though, and keep
> the mind active.
> Yes, pins should and likely started out centered in the hole.  There
> are so many shortcomings in the 'conventional' square, among them is
> the pblock design, and usually its materials.  There's just not enough
> resistance to tension - no load applied to the plate from the block at
> the tuning pin end of the plate to the plate, except through the pins
> and the few plate screws.  Pins shift and lean.  Just a bad scene
> altogether.  Just do what seems logical and you've done your best with
> this instrument.  Your plugs will be a big improvement on the original
> block material.  Next square I do to this extent I'll sure try new
> plugs; it makes so much sense.  Done it in uprights and some grands
> (like 1860's S&S, and early Broadwoods) but not in a square.
>
> Ralph Thorn
>