Broken Agraffe removal option

[Richard Brekne]

Way to go Phil !

Never say you cant teach and old dog new tricks !

Cheers
RicB

Phil Bondi wrote:

> I wrote to this list recently asking for advice for removing a broken 
> agraffe. What I received in return was the sage advice that we all 
> have come to know from this collection of technicians.
>
> Before I went to this clients home yesterday, I called a long-time 
> confidant asking for some guidance, prayer, and any advice he had 
> since I had never done this type of repair before. I explained to him 
> what I had read here and what was suggested here.
>
> He had another idea:
>
> He suggested that I go to Grainger and get a left-threaded drill 
> bit(1/8"), an awl, and file 3 equal sides about 1/4" up from the 
> tip...just in case. The purpose of filing the awl was in the event 
> that the left-handed drill bit did not remove the agraffe on its own.
>
> It was his opinion that the left-threaded drill bit would remove the 
> broken agraffe on its own without the aide of the awl..and if it did, 
> I would own him a hamburger.
>
> Make it a Happy Meal.
>
> Here's the procedure I used yesterday to easily remove a broken agraffe:
>
> -Apply some Liquid Wrench to the broken stub.
> -With the awl, lightly tap a starting hole/point for the drill bit to 
> bite into.
> -insert the drill bit and start slowly..trying to find a bite.
>
> As soon as the drill bit found a bite, the agraffe started to spin 
> free. At this point, there is no need to do anything else except 
> remove the stub with your fingers..or in Guy Nichols' case, perhaps 
> use tweezers to remove the stub.
>
> I will admit that I had, obviously, never removed a broken agraffe 
> until yesterday. I am here to suggest to the experienced techs as well 
> as the new techs to strongly consider this type of procedure the next 
> time you're faced with a broken agraffe. For a person like myself, 
> skiddish at best when working on a clients piano doing a procedure I 
> have never done before, that outside of the sweat pouring off my face 
> in nervousness, this procedure could not have been more tech-friendly 
> as well as plate-friendly.
>
> For those who don't know, Grainger only allows businesses to have an 
> account with them. It costs nothing to fill out an application. I had 
> an account with them since this same confidant had suggested it a few 
> years ago. Grainger has the odd and hard-to-find stuff.
>
> You can't imagine the relief I felt when I saw that stub start to turn.
>
> One Happy Meal..coming up.
>
> Phil Bondi(Fl)