[pianotech] repinning hammer butts w/ Billings flanges

[David Lawson Pianos]

Sorry to tell you, the only way is to re-bush. I too have tried all the 
methods you refer to and have come to the conclusion that they are a pain in 
the butt. Like all brass flanges, they will cause angst after fifty years or 
so.
David Lawson Wangaratta Australia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Nereson" <da88ve at gmail.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 7:31 PM
Subject: [pianotech] repinning hammer butts w/ Billings flanges


>    On the subject of repinning, how do you deal with butts that have 
> Billings flanges?  You can't repin more than about 1 or two sizes bigger, 
> because the center pin won't push through the brass flange.
>    I've tried widening the flange by prying it open with a screwdriver, 
> but then when tightening the flange screw, I've had some of them split or 
> crack.  Oh, you can squeeze them shut in a vise, and drill the hole 
> larger, but what a hassle!  I've had drill bits break trying to do that.
>    Are you obliged to re-bush all the butts first so you can use a small 
> enough center pin?
>    --David Nereson, RPT
>
>