> What worries me the most is how to decide whether to put one more > half-turn into the agraffe. I don’t want to leave the agraffe too > loose, and I don’t want to tighten it so tight that I break it off. > Ideally, I would like a torque spec so I could use a torque wrench to > help me make the decision. If the agraffe is pointing in the right > direction, but the torque is less than X ft-lb, then I will go for > another half-turn. Can anyone tell me what ft-lb limit I should use? I > guess most of you who do this a lot develop a feel for how tight is > enough, but I need to get it right the first time. > > In addition, I also wonder how one goes about centering the drill for > the easy-out on the remains of the old agraffe so that threads in the > plate are not damaged. Should I expect to mess them up and just commit > to going up from the current 7/32" size to the 1/4" size agraffe by > re-tapping the plate? And even if I don’t mess up the threads, it is > usual to run a tap through them anyway just to clean them up before the > new agraffe is installed? > > Finally, I managed to remove the old bass strings without cutting them > by straightening them just enough to slide through the old agraffe, so > that maybe I could re-use the old bass strings. Is that a reasonable > expectation? > > Robert Scott > Ypsilanti, Michigan Hi Bob, Center punching before drilling will control where the drill goes. An easy out or a sheetrock screw ground to a three cornered point should work to get the old shank out, assuming you chose the drill bit diameter to accommodate the removal method of choice. Anything between 45° and 90° past snug should be more than adequate for seating torque with the new agraffe. There isn't really a torque specification that I'm aware of. It's a matter of lunging on it until it breaks, then backing off a bit... The undercut shoulder on the modern agraffe replacements is tantamount to a get out of jail free card. It's pretty hard to screw up. As mentioned, you'll probably lose the becket on the string, but it's only going to be about a quarter turn on the pin, so it doesn't qualify as tragic. The important part is to impart the impression that you have everything under control to any casual passers by - which (whether it is apparent to you or not) you adequately do. Proceed confidently, smile knowingly, and bill accordingly. Ron N
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