[pianotech] Harpsichord Tuning Pin Torque?

Joseph Garrett joegarrett at earthlink.net
Thu Sep 16 23:03:56 MDT 2010


Rex,
Nope! No "metal harp" thingee. My client has gone down the Sabatihl & Son
road. To no avail. It seems the Son is running things and doesn't want
anything to do with this thing. Hence, my involvement.<G>
Regards,
JOE

Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I



> [Original Message]
> From: Rex Roseman <rosemanpiano at gmail.com>
> To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 9/16/10 6:37:56 PM
> Subject: RE: [pianotech] Harpsichord Tuning Pin Torque?
>
> Joe
>
> I am thinking that one of the instruments that I service is a Sabathil.
Does
> yours have a metal harp? If it is from the same maker, I believe that the
> tuning pins are the same style as piano and zither pins with a hole for a
> becket, in which case the do not need to be removed to replace a string if
> you don't want to. Sabathil and Sons have a website at
> http://www.sabathilandson.com/ and would probably be able to get you
> valuable construction information.
>
>
> Rex Roseman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Joseph Garrett [mailto:joegarrett at earthlink.net] 
> Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 11:13 AM
> To: David Doremus; pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] Harpsichord Tuning Pin Torque?
>
> David,
> Thanks for the response. It seems, everything on a harpsichord is 'by
feel'
> or 'because that's the way it has been done', with little or no R & D. Why
> is that? Confusing to me. I'm resurrecting a Sabatihl that self-destructed
> and was brought to me in several "Baskets"! Whoopee!<G> It's the first for
> me...redesign of the original to, (hopefully), elliviate the possibility
of
> the "self-destruct". As it stands, I doubt I'll ever do another. As for
> contacting Zuckerman, I've tried. They seem to want to ignore. I'd like to
> get a good "t" hammer w/hook from them as well. (Sigh.)
> As for the proper tip to put on a torque wrench, I took a cheapie 3/16",
> 1/4" drive, socket and did a little filing, (with "jewelers files), 
> and...voila'! Just put a 1/4" to 3/8" adaptor on the torque wrench and I'm
> up and  running. Now, I need some specs. I calculated that the drill(s)
> needed for a slightly looser torque would be a 3/16" or a #12 drill bit.
> Any help on that account would, also, be appreciated. I assume, since the
> string tension is so much less than a piano, that less torque would be
> needed to hold the tuning pin. The one thing that bothers me is: when a
> string breaks, (which is often), the owner/player of said harpsichord has
> to take the tuning pin out of the pin block to work the "magic" technique
> of replacing/winding the string. (I took Ann Garee's class at the Vegas
> thingee. Had fun and learned a bit about that aspect of these
critters.<G>)
> The problem: if the tuning pin is in/out of the darned block numerous
> times, that sucker is going to eventually be too loose IMHO. BTW, the
> material I am using for the pinblock is Delignet. (I know:
> 'Why???!!!....Because it's what I have on hand...and, it's what I'm used
to
> working with!<G>) The original block was solid European Beech, (which did
> the Self-destruct thingee)
> Well, such is the latest "experience" in my shop.<G>
> Joe
>
> Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
> Captain, Tool Police
> Squares R I
>
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: David Doremus <algiers_piano at bellsouth.net>
> > To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org>
> > Date: 9/16/10 7:31:33 AM
> > Subject: Re: [pianotech] Harpsichord Tuning Pin Torque?
> >
> >   Honestly no, I have never measured although I have tuned too many to 
> > count. Maybe 30 in/lbs at a guess? You know it when you feel it. They 
> > just need to hold the tension of the string without slipping and turn 
> > easily with the wrist. Too tight is very difficult to work with. I have 
> > a couple of Dowds and a Herz that I see regularly, I can try to measure 
> > them if I figure out a way to get the right tip on a torque wrench <g> 
> > You might try contacting Zuckermann, since they are a fairly large 
> > company as harpsichord makers go and might have some research on this.
I 
> > have drilled pinblocks for harpsichords and clavichords purely by feel 
> > of samples with no problems.
> >
> > --Dave
> >     New Orleans
> >
> > On 9/15/10 9:02 PM, Joseph Garrett wrote:
> > >
> > > Anyone know the approximate tuning pin torques of a harpsichord?
> > > Joe
> > > Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
> > > Captain, Tool Police
> > > Squares R I
> >
> > -- 
> >
> >
> > -- 
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> > Version: 7.5.560 / Virus Database: 270.12.26/2116 - Release Date:
5/15/09
> 6:16 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
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