Greetings Friends!
Here is a document I wrote about 5 years ago after spending a long time
working on some agraffes to clean and polish them during restringing a
grand piano. Here it is, completely unrevised and unedited since I wrote
this paper. Have fun!
Sincerely,
David A. Vanderhoofven
david@vanderpiano.com
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Cleaning and Polishing Agraffes
By David A. Vanderhoofven, RPT
6//14/1999
Purpose:
The purpose of this procedure is to renew the agraffes during a restringing
or rebuilding job. The essential part of the procedure is to use the
agraffe reaming tool to clean the hole that the string passes
through. After a long period of time, often there will be a string groove
at the top of the hole in the agraffe where the harder steel wire has cut
into the softer brass of the agraffe. This groove in the hole can
contribute to unwanted string noises. The use of the agraffe reaming tool
will help to make a clean termination of the string at the agraffe.
The additional work to polish, clean, and seal the agraffes is not
essential, but makes the job complete. The gleaming surfaces of the highly
polished brass agraffes make an excellent presentation and accent the
rebronzed plate and new tuning pins and strings.
Tools and Supplies Needed:
* 1/2 horsepower bench motor for 6" buffing wheel
* Assorted 6" cloth wheels for use with bench motor
Example:
- DICO #40 Spiral Sewed Buff with 1/2" face and 6" diameter
- DICO #36 Cushion Type Buff with 1/2" face and 6" diameter
- DICO #60 Canton Flannel Buff with 1/2" face and 6" diameter
* Assorted polishing compounds
Emery (DICO # E5) For coarse buffing to remove scratches, rust,
corrosion and burrs
Tripoli (DICO # TC6) For general cutting and buffing all
non-ferrous metals
Jewelers rouge (DICO # JR1) To obtain the highest lustre finish on
all metals
(DICO polishing supplies are available from most hardware stores.)
* Metal polish (such as Twinkle, Flitz, or Simi-chrome polish)
* Lacquer thinner
* Small metal tray for soaking agraffes
* Adjustable speed Dremel Moto-Tool
with 1" diameter cloth polishing wheel (Dremel # 423) and mandrel
(Dremel # 402)
* Leather gloves
* Protective Eye glasses
* Shop apron - to protect your clothes
* Soft polishing cloths
* Agraffe reamer
Pianotek Supply Co., part # AR-12
* Agraffe turning tool for combination handle
Pianotek Supply Co., part # ATT-1
Schaff Piano Supply, part # 30
APSCO, part # 16244
* Shop-made tool for holding agraffes
Take a block of hard wood, such as a piece of scrap pin-block
material. Drill a hole slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the
agraffe threads. Tap out the hole to accept the threads of the
agraffe. Sand the corners of the block of wood so there are no sharp
edges. Turn the agraffe into the hole in the hard wood and now you have a
handle to hold the agraffe with while polishing. Without this handle, the
agraffe can be very hard to hold onto because of its small size. Also, If
you hold the agraffe in your hand during these procedures, the heat can
build up quickly and burn your fingers. The handle will absorb the heat
that builds up in the agraffe from the friction of polishing and buffing.
* Tap Wrench
Schaff Piano Supply, part # 989
APSCO, part # 150825
Pianotek Supply Co., part # TW-164
* Tap - same diameter and thread count as the agraffes you are working with
Schaff Piano Supply, part #985 and part #987
APSCO part # 15583, and part #15584
* Clear brass lacquer for protective coat
Brasslac clear brass lacquer - Mohawk Finishing Supplies -
1-800-545-0047.
or
Parks brand "Brass Protector Coat".
(Please see the warning at the end of the article for use of this
product)
* A piece of cardboard with holes punched in it to hold agraffes
* Respirator Mask
Shop Facilities:
The shop should be well lighted, have enough space so that the technician
can move around comfortably, and must have good ventilation. There must be
no open flames or other sources of a spark that might cause the volatile
chemicals used to burn or explode. A spray booth or other draft free
spraying area is useful.
Procedure:
1. Remove agraffes from plate using agraffe turning tool
2. Keep agraffes in order, by stringing them on a piece of copper or other
soft wire
3. Soak agraffes in lacquer thinner or paint stripper to dissolve old finish
4. Remove agraffes from lacquer thinner (or stripper) and allow to dry (If
stripper is used, spray the agraffes with water to neutralize the stripper)
5. Insert one agraffe into threaded hole in shop-made hard wood agraffe
holder.
6. Buff and polish the agraffe on the bench buffing wheel using a DICO #40
spiral sewed cloth polishing wheel and DICO brand Emery polishing
compound. The Emery compound cuts faster and will remove deeper surface
scratches and imperfections. Be careful not to use too much
pressure. Allow the polishing compound and the speed of the wheel turning
to do the work.
7. Buff and polish the agraffe on the bench buffing wheel using a DICO #36
cushion type cloth polishing wheel and Tripoli polishing compound.
8. Buff and polish the agraffe on the bench buffing wheel using a DICO #60
canton flannel cloth polishing wheel and Jewelers rouge. It may be
preferable to do this step using a Dremel Moto-tool with a small cloth
wheel and Jewelers rouge. The Dremel Moto-tool will allow better control
of the operation.
9. Use a clean soft cloth to polish the brass and remove any traces of the
polishing compounds used.
10. Use agraffe reaming tool in tap wrench and clean up the holes in the
agraffes
11. Insert the agraffe into the hole in the cardboard.
12. Repeat steps 5 through 11 until all agraffes are polished to your
satisfaction.
13. Blow away (or vacuum up) any dust on the cardboard and agraffes
14. Seal the agraffes using Parks brand "Brass Protector Coat" or Mohawk
brand Brass-lac. It is better to spray on two light coats instead of
having one heavy coat.
15. Allow to air dry and spray on another sealing coat
16. After agraffes are completely dry, re-install agraffes into plate and
begin restringing
Acknowledgements:
Thanks to Kevin Way, South West Missouri Player Piano Service, for
excellent help and advice and the use of his shop facilities.
Thanks to Vince Mrykalo for advising me to get the agraffe reamer from
Pianotek Supply.
References:
Reblitz, Arthur. _ Piano Tuning, Servicing, and Rebuilding_. 2nd Ed.
Vestal, New York: The Vestal Press, 1993, pages 280-282.
Graham, Susan, and Chris Robinson, and others, "Pinblocks and Plates", PTG
Journal reprint kit, Kansas City: the Piano Technicians Guild, 1995.
Revenko-Jones, Paul, class notes from one day seminar, November, 1998, St.
Louis chapter PTG.
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WARNING:
Parks brand "Brass Protector Coat" has these warnings on the label.
Danger! Extremely Flammable Liquid and Vapor. Vapors may cause flash
fire. Contents under pressure. Vapor Harmful. Harmful or fatal if
swallowed. Causes Eye Irritation.
Contains: Methyl IsoButyl Ketone, Isobutyl Isobutyrate, Toluol, Acetone,
Ethyl 3-Ethoxy Proprionate, Propane, Med. Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Solvent,
Xylene, Propanol, Methyl Ethyl Ketone.
Hazards: Danger! Vapor Harmful. May Affect the brain or nervous system
causing dizziness, headache or nausea. Causes eye, skin, nose, throat and
lung irritation.
Warning: Use of this product will expose you to benzene which is known to
cause cancer and to toluol which is known to cause birth defects or other
reproductive harm. NOTICE: Reports have associated repeated and prolonged
occupational overexposure to solvents with permanent brain and nervous
system damage. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and
inhaling the contents may be harmful or fatal. Contact with flame or hot
surface may produce toxic gases.
Precautions: Vapors may ignite explosively. Keep away from heat, sparks
and flame. VAPORS MAY CAUSE FLASH FIRE. Do not smoke. Turn off and
extinguish all flames and pilot lights on stoves, heaters, water heaters,
etc. Disconnect all electric motors and other sources of ignition during
use and until all vapors are gone. Prevent build-up of vapors by opening
all windows and doors to achieve cross-ventilation. If you can smell even
a weak solvent odor, there is a real fire risk. Vapors are heavier than
air and may spread over long distances. Do not puncture or incinerate
(burn) container. Exposure to heat or prolonged exposure to sun may cause
bursting. Do not expose to heat or store at temperatures above 120 degrees
Fahrenheit. USE ONLY IN WELL VENTILATED AREA. Do not breathe vapors or
spray mist. Ensure fresh air entry during application and drying. If you
experience eye watering, headache or dizziness or if there is a weak
solvent smell, STOP. Leave the area and increase ventilation before
continuing to avoid health and flammability risks. If air monitoring
demonstrates vapor/mist levels are above applicable limits, wear
appropriate properly fitted respirator (NIOSH?MSHA approved) during and
after application. Follow respirator manufacturer's directions for
respirator use. Close container after each use. Avoid contact with eyes,
skin and clothing. Wash thoroughly after handling.
First Aid: In case of eye contact, flush immediately with plenty of water
for at least 15 minutes and get medical attention, immediately; for skin,
wash thoroughly with soap and water. If you experience difficulty in
breathing, leave the area to obtain fresh air. If continued difficulty is
experienced, get medical assistance immediately. If swallowed, get medical
attention, immediately. Disposal: Dispose of unused contents in
accordance with local, state and federal regulations.
KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN
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