[pianotech] return spring

[Ron Nossaman]

On 8/17/2012 7:13 AM, Al Guecia/Allied PianoCraft wrote:
> Yep! that's what I had mentioned to Wim. Had one, but don't know where
> it hid itself.

As tools go, it's a pretty easy build, or affordable for someone else do 
make for anyone without the means to make their own. Anyone detectably 
resourceful could likely do the same thing with a C clamp or some such 
in a pinch.



>         ----- Original Message -----
>         *From:* tnrwim at aol.com <mailto:tnrwim at aol.com>
>         *To:* pianotech at ptg.org <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>
>         *Sent:* Thursday, August 16, 2012 3:55 AM
>         *Subject:* [pianotech] return spring
 >
>         I wonder if anyone has ever tried to stand on the spring to do
>         the same thing?  Either stand on each end of the spring, or turn
>         it around and stand in the middle.
>         Hey, I weigh 240 pounds. Isn't that enough to bend the spring?
>         Wim

Wim,
Instead of wondering, try it yourself. It will work, or it will not. 
You'll break it, or you won't. This is the very same list of possible 
outcomes no matter what tool you use to try to bend a hardened steel 
spring that shouldn't have to be bent to make it work, and you already 
have the necessary tooling to apply 240 lbs to the process. More with 
some creative stomping. You'd get more control without the breakage risk 
by grinding the spring narrower (not thinner) to adjust the spring rate 
instead of the travel, but that's not much of a practical field repair. 
So invest in a spare spring and go for it. Somebody has to do the research.

How bad could it be?

No, wait! <G>
Ron N