Terry, Here are some suggestions for you: 1. Dig an old small blade screwdriver out of an old tool box or something, and grind the tip down. First, trim the edges so that the width will fit the agraffe stem (1/4" wide should work), then sharpen the tip to a chisel type edge. Finally, use a small flat or triangular file to cut a V-grove across the center of your new chisel edge to create a sharp double-pointed blade. With this you can very often simply push hard and spin the broken stem out. I have had this work quite a few times. 2. Drill with a reverse drill bit into the stem. Many times the bit will grab after you get in a few mm, and the stem will spin right out. If it is really frozen, then the hole will allow you to use an easy-out. My experience with easy-outs in agraffes has not been good. I have tried it 3 different times, with one of them working OK, one not working, and one causing a complete disaster - broken easy-out in the center of the agraffe! What a mess that was! The problem is that the easy out creates a lot of outward pressure from the center of the agraffe stem, so it tends to tighten the threads as you try to spin it out. I would avoid liquid wrench or similar oils - the agraffe is just too close to the pinblock for this, and the risks outweigh the possible advantages. No special hardness of drill bit is needed. Any good quality steel bit that is not worn out should drill the brass just fine. It will also drill the iron very well, so be careful with your alignment! Don Mannino RPT At 03:23 PM 11/22/2004, you wrote: >I'ver been reviewing the ptg archives regarding the bst way to remove >agraffes that have broken fluch with the plate. i'm trying to determine >which is best; using a reverse thread drill bit, or using a standard bit >to to drll a pilot hole for the ez-out. Another method that i heard about >was to dig a slot across the broken agraffe, then "unscrew' it with a slot >blade screwdriver. Hmmm, sounds like it might work. Also, will I need any >special type of drill bit to penetrate the brass, like diamond tip, or? >And what about center punching the agraffe so the drill bit won't >"wander"? Will a sharpened awl do the trick? Love to get ideas. thanks! > >Terry Peterson > > >_______________________________________________ >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
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