Which segues into something I've been thinking about. Who does the most damage to pianos? Players or piano technicians. David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "John Delacour" <JD at Pianomaker.co.uk> To: pianotech at ptg.org Received: 4/21/2010 10:27:39 AM Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pully keys >I've ended up doing this job using the Schaff tool and the hornbeam >wrest-plate bushings, and, if I don't count the time spent working >out the job, it is quick, accurate and efficacious. >The plate bushings are slightly larger than the socket made by the >tool and have a 2mm pilot bore running about half way down. To >reduce the diameter I stuck a dolly wire in a Dremel type tool, runed >the onto the end and drew them across a sheet of abrasive paper -- a >few seconds work to get a perfect interference fit. >I set the tool to cut the socket to a depth of a full 3mm, just to >clear the end of the original balance hole and make visible the 1/4 >inch drilling beyond. I then brushed the bushing with hot animal >glue and tapped it home in the socket, pilot hole down because that >end is chamfered. >Then, with the key upside down in the vice, I cut the protruding >dowel flush with the line of the key using a Japanese saw and then a >paring chisel to reveal the pilot hole ready for drilling out with a >3.6mm drill and burnishing with an awl. >I'll post pictures of the process in the next few days. It looks so >far like a solid and durable job. I have yet to lay the keys, but I >am not too anxious because, as I said before, the pilot shank on the >tool aligns itself to the _sides_ of the hole and slight pressure >towards the back of the key when starting the milling-out prevents >any influence from the crushed side. Will Truit's idea is good but >time-consuming and --I hope I don't have to eat the word! -- >superfluous. >When I look at the keys I'd give equal blame for the oval holes to >Steinway/Kluge for bad design, prima donnas for daft playing and >previous technicians for rough removal and replacement of the keys. >On the old Steinways and most good pianos the balance pins are angled >backwards to enable the key to be removed by first raising the front >and then gently lifting off by the chase (button). Already in 1916 >Wolfenden was complaining that some makers had stopped this practice, >and he was right to complain. Clumsy and thoughtless technicians are >in the great majority and the angling of the balance pins can >certainly minimize the damage they can do to the keys while making >things easier also for the minority. >JD
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