Paint in agraffe plate holes/agraffe reaming

[Michael Spalding]

Comments inserted below:


> [Original Message]
> From: Bob Hull <hullfam5@yahoo.com>
> To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> Date: 9/22/2004 1:31:47 PM
> Subject: Paint in agraffe plate holes/agraffe reaming
>
> List,
> Two Questions:
>
> 1. What methods do some of you us to keep paint from
> getting into the agraffe plate holes and threads when
> you repaint a grand plate? 

roofing nails  - the heads are just the right size to mask the agraffe
seat.  If the seat has rust or dirt or overspray, I clean it with a drill
whose tip is ground flat, (like an end mill, but too soft and dull to bite
into the cast iron, just take off dirt, rust, and paint).

 (I have removed the old
> agraffes and removed the paint that was on them from
> the last job somebody did on this piano.  I won't
> repaint these but rather buff them up to their natural
> beauty.)

Same here, including clear gloss lacquer after buffing.

> 2. What is your favorite way to ream agraffes? (I wish
> I could find the notes I had from Paul Revenko-Jones
> on his method.  These are an odd size or I would just
> replace them.  Most of the archive stuff on agraffe
> reaming is really about agraffe seating.)

After attending Paul's convention class several years ago, I bought the
agraffe reamer from pianotek.  Paul recommends a very slow speed, like 50
RPM, but my drill press only goes down to about 150 and I've been happy
with the results..  I made a holder out of pinblock scrap that clamps the
agraffe by its threaded portion, which I use both for buffing and for
reaming.  Move the agraffe to the reamer, not the other way around.  You
can feel when the burrs have been removed and the cutting edge is cutting
uniformly all the way around, that's how you know you're done.  You might
want to practice on some scrap agraffes.   Do each hole from both sides. 
If you do this after all of the buffing/lacquering, you will remove all the
lacquer and other unwanted stuff from the termination point.

Caveat - Although I have been satisfied with doing it this way, I heard
recently that Paul has changed his method, but I don't know what the
changes might be.  Paul??

Mike