----- Original Message ----- From: "David Ilvedson" <ilvey@sbcglobal.net> To: <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: August 28, 2002 11:10 PM Subject: Re: Foundry Castings > I guess I've got to wonder would it make a bit of difference in the outcome of the piano? Would a steel, ceramic whatever plate be worth it? > > David I. Obviously, I think steel is worth the trouble and expense. Our steel plates will be somewhat more costly than comparably sized cast gray iron plates. (Of course, I don't have to make [or pay for] a plate pattern either.) As with most things, the high cost is primarily due to our anticipated very low volume. In high volume--with the appropriate (expensive) equipment--the cost of the steel plate becomes much more competitive. In any case I think the advantages of steel outweigh the added cost of fabrication. And, in my opinion, the relative lack of damping in steel is a decided plus. I don't particularly want the plate absorbing all that energy from the strings. Which is exactly what happens with the high damping factor of gray iron. I don't know enough about working with ceramics to hazard even a wild guess about what one would cost. If I win the lottery I'll try one out. (Oh...do I have to buy a ticket to do that?) Del
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