Bionic arm!

[Robin Stevens]

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 The only way some grands could be tuned with a T hammer is to bend the
pin!!..... unless you have a bionic arm!!!=0D
=0D
Robin=0D
South Australia=0D
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=0D
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 =0D
-------Original Message-------=0D
 =0D
From: Pianotech=0D
Date: 03/20/05 10:18:40=0D
To: William R. Monroe=0D
Cc: pianotech@ptg.org=0D
Subject: Re: Impact Tuning Lever=0D
 =0D
Hello William and List=0D
As a left handed tuner I find it very easy to control the lever on an=0D
upright. I use the fingers of my left hand against the top of the pin blo=
ck,=0D
and the lever in the thumb joint, to help inch up the lever. I go for the=
=0D
ten o'clock position. In grands I always use a "T" hammer. But I haven't =
one=0D
of those "impact hammers". Can't get them here. The principle sounds=0D
interesting though.=0D
Regards=0D
Michael G.(UK)=0D
----- Original Message -----=0D
From: "William R. Monroe" <pianotech@a440piano.net>=0D
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>=0D
Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 9:32 PM=0D
Subject: Re: Impact Tuning Lever=0D
 =0D
 =0D
> Alan,=0D
>=0D
> I do think ambidextrous tuning is a good practice, for many reasons.  T=
hat=0D
> said, however, I must respectfully say that I think all any technician=0D
> needs=0D
> is properly developed technique.  Tuning right or left handed should ma=
ke=0D
> no=0D
> difference so long as the technician compensates for the physics of the=
=0D
> hammer position, movement, etc.=0D
>=0D
> Sometimes, this is a conscious process; e.g. while tuning right handed =
on=0D
> a=0D
> vertical, we understand that pulling the pin down a bit will result in =
a=0D
> (relatively) higher pitch when released - all other things being equal =
-=0D
> so=0D
> we compensate by not pulling above pitch as much prior to setting.  Thi=
s=0D
> is=0D
> a bit oversimplified, but I think you get the idea.  I would expect tha=
t=0D
> mostly it is subconscious.  Whichever hand anyone uses to tune is=0D
> irrelevant.  It is my position that knowing how the piano responds to y=
our=0D
> particular tuning technique IS relevant and is what makes for a good=0D
> tuning.=0D
> An ambidextrous technician should be equally capable of tuning grands o=
r=0D
> uprights with either hand, in my opinion.=0D
>=0D
> William R. Monroe=0D
>=0D
>=0D
> ----- Original Message -----=0D
> From: "Alan Forsyth" <alanforsyth@fortune4.fsnet.co.uk>=0D
> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>=0D
> Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 1:35 PM=0D
> Subject: Re: Impact Tuning Lever=0D
>=0D
>=0D
> " I also like your idea of using pitch raises to get used to left-hande=
d=0D
> work. I don't really have the time to try and fine-tune with my left ju=
st=0D
> yet.=0D
> Good news!=0D
> -holly" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>=0D
>=0D
>=0D
> Don't know about you guys but we were taught to be ambidextrous from da=
y=0D
> one. Left handed for uprights and right handed for grands. The main ide=
a=0D
> is=0D
> that it automatically compensates for tuning pin setting. When using yo=
ur=0D
> left arm to tune an upright, the pin would tend to move upwards (becaus=
e=0D
> you=0D
> would be pushing up from underneath) and then settle back down. If you=0D
> used=0D
> your right arm, you would tend to pull down on the pin. Visa versa with=
=0D
> grands.=0D
>=0D
> AF=0D
>  ----- Original Message -----=0D
>  From: ilex cameron ross=0D
>  To: Pianotech=0D
>  Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:44 PM=0D
>  Subject: RE: Impact Tuning Lever=0D
>=0D
>=0D
>  Thanks for sharing, Terry - this is really good to hear. I'm only in m=
y=0D
> early 30s and due to a combination of tuning and a really really stupid=
=0D
> fall=0D
> a couple of years ago, I have pretty consistent problems with my tuning=
=0D
> wrist. Not to mention the weekly chiro visits for just general back and=
=0D
> shoulder crap. Anymore I absolutely have to wear a wrist brace when=0D
> tuning,=0D
> and I have been pondering the investment of an impact lever. I also lik=
e=0D
> your idea of using pitch raises to get used to left-handed work. I don'=
t=0D
> really have the time to try and fine-tune with my left just yet.=0D
>  Good news!=0D
>  -holly=0D
>    -----Original Message-----=0D
>    From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On=
=0D
> Behalf Of Terry=0D
>    Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 5:54 AM=0D
>    To: pianotech@ptg.org=0D
>    Subject: Impact Tuning Lever=0D
>=0D
>=0D
>    A while ago I posted questions regarding purchase of an impact tunin=
g=0D
> lever. I've been using it for a few months now and just thought I would=
=0D
> report in.=0D
>=0D
>    For a couple years now I have been rastling with some kind of=0D
> torn/strained muscle/tendon in my shoulder (thanks to a Boston studio &=
 a=0D
> 1098 on the same day) and tendonitis in the elbow - both in my tuning a=
rm.=0D
> It had gotten to the point where I had walked away from several service=
=0D
> appointments because I knew tuning that piano would put me out of work =
for=0D
> some weeks.=0D
>=0D
>    I've been using the impact lever for pitch raises on all vertical=0D
> pianos=0D
> unless they have very low-torque tuning pins. I use my trusty=0D
> Renner/Bowman=0D
> lever for tuning verticals and everything on grands. I pitch-raised=0D
> Kimball=0D
> and Baldwin consoles yesterday - both were raised more than 100 cents -=
=0D
> they=0D
> both got two pitch-raise passes and then a tuning pass. Both these pian=
os=0D
> had excessively tight tuning pins - easily around 200+ in-lbs. I used t=
he=0D
> impact lever for these four pitch-raise passes and I have no arm pain=0D
> today=0D
> at all. The impact lever seems to have saved me!=0D
>=0D
>    I impact the bass with my left hand and the rest of the scale with m=
y=0D
> right - I'm trying to train myself to become ambidextrous with the impa=
ct=0D
> lever - again, in case I wreck an arm at some point I could keep tuning=
=2E I=0D
> can see that it will take quite a bit of practice to become good at fin=
e=0D
> tuning with the impact lever, but I think using it for all vertical pit=
ch=0D
> raises will eventually get me to the point where I can start attempting=
=0D
> using the impact lever for fine tuning - I would like to get to the poi=
nt=0D
> where I can use it for all vertical tuning.=0D
>=0D
>    Bottom line: the impact lever has saved my arm, avoided interruption=
s=0D
> in=0D
> income, and will likely extend my tuning career (unless soundboard=0D
> manufacturing can save me from the spinet devils!). I am very happy I h=
ave=0D
> started using this great tool!=0D
>=0D
>    Terry Farrell=0D
>=0D
>=0D
>=0D
 =0D
 =0D
_______________________________________________=0D
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