[pianotech] balance hole jig

[Encore Pianos]

It's not my idea, but I cannot remember who I got it from.  But thank you,
whoever you are.  :-)

When the punching method is used it will provide very  consistent results.
And I do want to combine it with your jig, which will be simpler and faster
than what I have been doing.  

Will

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of jim at grandpianosolutions.com
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:44 PM
To: pianotech
Subject: [pianotech] balance hole jig

David S (hold the c, no mayo) said

<Would I assume that if the key frame used .162" pins, or other, you would
modify the jig accordingly?

It could be a replaceable pin, or just a 2nd set since its all so simple.

For my own shop use, I would go for making a second .162 set, as replaceable
anythings escalates the complexity of the jig.  I swear though...after
making jigs for 25 years, except in rare production circumstances, I go for
single purpose, rot gut simplicity in the construction and definition of
purpose. Time and time again I've watched great efficient  jig ideas turn
into unmanageable monsters when trying to make them multi-purpose.

<Also, is it correct that you are keying off of the original balance hole?

Yes

<If so, and 'ovaling' has taken place, how do you accommodate? Have you used
this system to do an entire set?

The maiden voyage was on the maple clickety-clackety shoes, so although it
was a full keyset, the existing balance holes were 4 yrs old, trustworthy
and round. Final alignment was excellent. As well, the pin indexes were in
hardwood not soft key stick wood, so they went together 
with literally no slop.   For sure, the ovaling problem will have to be 
dealt with on any worn out original balance hole, and any hole replacement
procedure needs to account for this. However, in this project I didn't need
to work that problem because the holes were trustworthy.

One of the things I really liked about how this worked was that once the jig
was made, all of the processes on the key actually preferred the use of a
hand drill. I used one of those straight driver/drill items, and the drill
bushing combined with straight driver/drill, which was held loosely, easily
found the bits center of rotation. I tried a couple on the drill press, and
the drill press was not an improvement.  If only those little driver drills
ran at a higher rpm they would be just the dandiest.

Will's punching idea sounds good.   Some favor the front of the hole on 
placing the new hole, I think, on the theory that the back of the hole takes
the beating. But this introduces slop, which starts the whole thing down the
guessing game route. Other than Will's idea, which sounds 
doable, I'll have to chew on this.   Other ideas out there?

Jim Ialeggio


--
Jim Ialeggio
jim at grandpianosolutions.com
(978) 425-9026
Shirley, MA