Drill bit size for #1 gauge tuning pins

[A440A@aol.com]

Greetings,
   I wrote: 
<< I use #1 pins on all my rebuilds.  I  usually use either factory Steinway 
or Bolduc blocks.  Normally, I  use a C bit in the bottom 44 pins and a D bit 
in the treble.   Sometimes if the block feels a little tight, I will go to an 
E  bit,(.250")  in the top two octaves, just for ease of tuning.    >>


Dale writes: 
   I would not recommend no. ones in Ds or other heavy tension  scales unless 
they have plate bushing. I find the D I did with ones has more pin  flex than 
desired & the tuning is a bit more squirrly than before it was  restrung. 

Hmmm,  this is interesting! 
   Four years ago, I restrung the D at Vanderbilt with #1 pins in a new 
Steinway block.  The torque tapers from around 125 in/lbs in the bass to 100 in the 
treble, (I used the two sizes of drill bits and also increased the feed speed 
at the top end to give a little looser hole).  
    The piano tunes like a dream.  I wish all the D's I tune, (six of them 
last week!) were this easy to place the pins.  Soooo.... I dunno. There are a 
lot of variables in something this subjective.  
Regards, 
 

Ed Foote RPT 
http://www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/index.html
www.uk-piano.org/edfoote/well_tempered_piano.html