Varnish and Tuning Pins

[Paul]

Richard

I've tried the varnish, not shellac, in the tuning pin holes in old
pinblocks when restringing an upright for example, and on new pinblocks. It
makes driving easier and the first turnings of the tuning pin easier-almost
scary because the pins seems to turn too easy. After the varnish has dried,
the pins are smoother,  with no "set" to them that makes them snap or jump.
I've just switched to using parabolic drill bits which are designed for soft
materials ( plastics, aluminum, some non-ferrous metals); and can carry
heavy chip loads. In one pass they can carry 15 times their diameter in chip
loads. That dimension is well beyond the thickness of the pinblock, thus
allowing for a single plunge of the bit with no burning or scorching of the
wood. The results are fewer strokes with a cooler bit, chips, and pinblock.
I did not regrind the bit for wood. The factory grind has a relief angle
that allows for faster chip removal. Works very well. I tested this style
bit with dozens of holes drilled with standard twist drill holes and double
drilling methods and found the result to be as good as the best techniques
for drilling blocks, and much faster. These bits are available from
machinery supply houses like MSC and McMaster Carr.(They have websites.)
Anyone doing pinblocks, etc.should try them.

Paul Chick
----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Brekne <rbrekne@broadpark.no>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2001 9:15 AM
Subject: Varnish and Tuning Pins


>
>
> Wilsons wrote:
>
> > All you say is true, and the varnish does not "glue" the screw to the
wood.
> >  However, it is the observation of others and myself that when it dries,
it
> > does have a tightening effect on the tuning pin.   The prime purpose of
> > using it is for driving the pin, and it may smooth the turning somewhat
> > where the drilling may wander slightly.  That never happened to me, of
> > course!  :)
> >
> > Wally
> >
>
> I have run into this advise several places as well... in a few
varitations.
> Shellack, and Varnish come typically up... supposed to help torque and at
the
> same time contribute to smooth pins. Also run into rubing harpics on your
hands
> when stringing.. this is supposed to help torque a lot... but some have
told me
> it also is a major cause of sticky pins.
>
> I tried swabing with shellack a few times but didnt feel like it helped
much. I
> thought the discussion on the air hammer a while back seemed like a good
idea.
> Will have to try that one out... but thats another story.
>
> --
> Richard Brekne
> RPT, N.P.T.F.
> Bergen, Norway
> mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
>
>