String Replacement Results

[Porritt, David]

Matthew:

 

My only observations would be that removing the action would make the
job much easier and safer for the dampers.  Also you can just turn the
pins out 1 turn if you make the coils on a dummy pin and then put the
pre-made coil on the tuning pin.  That saves a lot of turning of the
tuning pin which will make it looser.  Of course in my situation broken
strings are quite common so I do everything I can to minimize that kind
of wear since there is a great likelihood that the new string will also
break.  

 

dave

 

 

David M. Porritt, RPT

dporritt at smu.edu <mailto:dporritt at smu.edu> 

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On
Behalf Of Matthew Todd
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 4:13 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: String Replacement Results

 

Hi List,

 

I just finished my string replacement exercise and I would like to share
with you my step by step procedure.  Any comments, suggestions, do's and
don't do agains will be greatly appreciated.

 

The piano is a Yamaha P-2, and I chose F-57 for replacement.  The reason
being it was the first string above the overstrung area, and I wasn't
about to delve in that area yet.

 

I used my wire cutters and nipped the string(s) as close to the coil as
possible.  I then used my small screwdriver to pry the coil off the pin,
being careful not to scratch the finish of the plate.  I mic'd the
string I took off, and it was size 15 wire.  I mic'd the size 15 to make
sure it was a match, and it was dead on.

 

I got my tape measure and measured from the hitch pin to four fingers
past the top pin (it was about 20'').  Then I took my size 15 reel of
wire and measured out 20'', made my bend and doubled the string.  Then I
cut.

 

I then took my tuning hammer, and backed the two pins out of the hole
approximately four turns each, making sure not to go too fast.  Then I
made sure the hole of each pin was lined up and down.

 

I fed the string from the top.  I had to manuever it several times
before I could get a hold of it from the bottom with my stringing hook.
I ran it to the hitch pin and seated it around the pin, and then with my
vise grips, clamped the pin.  Then I popped the string on the bridge
pins.

 

Back at the top, I started with the middle pin and fed the wire through
the hole  I let the wire run out the other side almost 1/4''.  As I
began turning it, it did pop out once, so I had to straighten the wire
with my needle nose, and do it again.  After the second coil, I used my
pliers and squeezed the coils.  I was very careful not to let any wires
over lap, and to make sure my first coil was snug against the string
that was out the other side.  After the third coil, I did the same
procedure with the top pin.

 

I had two errors thus far.  First, when I went down below to make sure
the string was still around the hitch pin and bridge pin, I discovered
the string was caught up on the bridge pin on the adjacent note!  So I
had to back the pin out and fix it.

 

The second error was as I was cranking up the top pin, I looked and
found the string was caught in some dampers on the left and was actually
pulling them over!  (Some of you may be cringing as I say that...I sure
did!)  So, I backed out that pin, and fixed that situation.

 

After that, I was pretty much home free.  I was able to make nice, neat
coils.  The top pin ended up with 3 1/2 coils, while the middle pin had
3.  In fact, the top pin is just a little bit higher than the rest of
the pins now.  It is not bad, but it is sticking out just a little
farther.

 

I did this with the action in the piano.  Figured I was up to more of a
challenge, and it actually wasn't that bad!  The only thing I did not do
was really seat the string around the hitch pin.  I don't have a small
brass rod with a rounded end, and I didn't want to do it with my
screwdriver.

 

Since the action was still in place, I wasn't able to do a good job of
stretching the string with my stretcher either.

 

I tuned the strings about one note sharp and that is where I left it as
I write this.

 

I think I remembered everything.  Like I said, if any of you have any
comments or suggestions, I will take them all.

 

 

Thank you!

Matthew

 

 

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