[pianotech] The value of this list

[Ron Nossaman]

On 8/9/2012 10:52 AM, J Patrick Draine wrote:
> Straying from the thread title, what were the benefits and/or deficits
> of using 1/0 versus 2/0 pins? I recollect Ed Foote mentioned favoring
> 1/0; what was your analysis?

 From one instance probably 25 years ago, I don't recall any 
particularly dramatic benefit. Tuning Yamaha grands with pins smaller 
than 1/0 (6.9mm, were they?), compared to a restring with 2/0 pins, it 
struck me that the smaller pins were more forgiving of variations in pin 
fit in the block, and turned more easily with less pin/block surface 
contact and those nice cut thread pins.

Now, I'd say if you want a lower range of torque in a new block, getting 
uniform results would be easier with 1/0 pins if flagpoling isn't a 
problem for you. I like tighter than minimal pins, and have a block and 
drill technique that makes that far more uniform and controllable than 
it was back then, so I prefer 2/0 for the stiffer pin. With the current 
obsession with infinitely stiff tuning levers, it seems odd to not be 
concerned with the flex in the pins, but 3/0, even though stiffer, puts 
more pin surface contact in the block, which I think isn't an ideal 
trade for the stiffness. Using 2/0 also means that more tuning tips out 
there in service land will fit the pin, which is one of the things that 
supposedly makes a standard a standard, however naive that actually 
proves to be in practice. So going with my overall philosophy of staying 
with simple ways to try to get dependable relatively high performance 
from non-exotic parts and materials, 2/0 pins with my composite block 
and Denro pins is my choice.

Ron N