Original pin block

[David Love]

I guess that's true.  Sorting pins for an old block is probably a waste of
time since it's not likely that the old holes are uniform anyway.  I suppose
if you redrill or ream, however, they may be more uniform but the variation
in wood compression in each hole from the original non uniform pins might
still render the exercise somewhat useless.  

On a new block that's double drilled I would guess that the holes are quite
uniform and sorting might help graduate the torque a bit if that's important
to you.  I used to mic pins regularly as well as roll them on a flat surface
but after awhile I didn't find that much variation and so now I don't really
do it.  I've gone back and forth between Denro and Diamond and have settled
on Diamond pins as they seem a bit more uniform (plus I like their bluing
better).  

David Love
davidlovepianos at comcast.net 
www.davidlovepianos.com

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ron Nossaman
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 9:12 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Original pin block



> Sorting the pins as you mention I think is a good idea.

I wonder. I'd bet nobody sorted the original pins, and there 
was likely more variation in size then than with today's cut 
thread pins (as I recall from micing rolled thread pins 30 
years ago). So the existing holes are neither uniform, nor 
calibrated bass to treble. Sorting pins could well lessen the 
probability of putting an undersized pin in an oversize hole 
in the bass, but in as soft a block as Steinway's, I'd think 
it's a boarder line return.

Ok, I'll quit observing now and go back to work.
Ron N