Nature of tuning pins, why technicians prefer blue

[Ron Nossaman]

> I understand blued pins will ultimately rust in highly humid climates, 
> like they have in the Deep South or along the Eastern Seaboard. Perhaps 
> that was the cosmetic problem Steinway (and other manufacturers) were 
> trying to address with the nickel pins. (Even nickel plated pins will 
> corrode (or maybe it's the steel under the plating) with time and 
> humidity as well, just takes longer. But perhaps all they needed was 
> long enough to get through the warranty period.)
>  
> ~Kendall Ross Bean

I've used blued Denros for years and years, and haven't mic'd 
a set since I started using my composite block. I like blued 
for a couple of reasons. I like the look better than nickel. 
I'm not a screw and plate polisher, and blued fits my semi 
gloss approach. Like David, I think they feel better in the 
socket, for tuning, and I don't find little chewed nickel 
slivers on the pin heads and lying about in the piano years 
later as I do with nickel. The threads are obviously cut after 
bluing, and have a nice fresh sharp tooth to them, which tells 
me they are right off the lathe, aren't filled with anything 
or otherwise compromised, and will do what I expect of them in 
the block.

As to both nickel and blued pins corroding eventually, yes, 
but when they eventually do, how does a light frost of rust on 
a tuning pin top affect it's function? And when they do start 
rusting, it's nearly a sure thing that the blued pin will 
still fit the tuning hammer tip better than the nickel. Nickel 
plating is, in my opinion, pretty much entirely for the sparkle.
Ron N