When a string is at pitch, it's usually around 60% of the tension that would cause it to break. (I know that's not universal) But when we put a bend in a piece of wire, that tiny part is a lot weaker. And there might be factors, such as replacing a loose tuning pin, where the string was removed and reinstalled. Maybe someone needed to twist the string to get rid of a buzz. Working the wire must weaken it further. I was at a class once where the instructor was demonstrating how a tubby bass string could be improved by removing it from the piano and whipping it on a carpet to loosen the crud from the windings. He reinstalled the string, pulled it up to about a minor third low and demonstrated how clean it now sounded (!) When asked to bring it all the way to correct pitch, it was plain to see he was worried it might break. Gordon Large, RPT Maine -----Original Message----- From: Dean May <deanmay at pianorebuilders.com> To: pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Tue, Mar 2, 2010 2:46 pm Subject: Re: [pianotech] String Breakage It’s surprising because usually whena string breaks during tuning it isn’t approaching anything close to 300cents sharp. Other factors are at work, but our ear is not hearing 300 centssharp. Dean Dean W May (812) 235-5272 PianoRebuilders.com (888) DEAN-MAY Terre Haute IN 47802 From:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of PAULREVENKOJONES at aol.com Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 2:42PM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] StringBreakage Why? Way-average breaking percentage of70% at pitch yields another three half steps of pitch(300 cents) rise to approach 100%. Paul In a message dated 3/2/2010 12:37:19 P.M.Central Standard Time, mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com writes: I had a 1900 Everett grand with theoriginal strings in my shop a few years ago for restringing and just for theyahoo of it my son and I decided to see just how far above pitch you could pulla string before it broke. We did maybe a dozen or so and pretty regularly wewould pull them about 300 cents sharp before they broke. That surprised me abit. Terry Farrell -----OriginalMessage----- From: Mike Kurta <mkurta1 at comcast.net> To: toddpianoworks at att.net; pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Tue, Mar 2, 2010 7:57 am Subject: Re: [pianotech] String Breakage SNIP We had a chapter meeting once where we took a junk piano and everyonetook a turn at purposely trying to break the strings. We each brought our tuningwrench and took turns cranking tighter and tighter until the strings broke. Itwas amazing! Most pins turned 1/2 a turn or more before the string letgo. Again, there is no rhyme or reason...... Mike Kurta, RPT Chicagochapter = -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100302/9af1e6b6/attachment.htm>
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