I cut or break the veneer into strips approx. 1/4" wide. After the pin is extracted put the strip into the hole for depth measurement. Make the strip about 1/16" longer than the entire hole depth. On grands w/hole drilled all the way through, put your hand under the P.B to stop the shim at the bottom. Once I get the size right, I put the strip in my mouth to wet it, this makes the veneer flexible so that it will conform to the shape of the hole. Insert the shim on the speaking length side of the hole, (the hole is usually elongated in this direction). Hand start the tuning pin and screw it into the pin block to a height just slightly higher than it's neighbors, (approx. one turn higher). Put the coil back on and bring to pitch. When you are screwing the pin in, you can tell if the pin feel is what you want. Some times it is necessary to put a wider/thinner shim in. Regards, Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)
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