[pianotech] Weird Stuff in my week

[Joseph Garrett]

Al,
You haven't seen my van!<G> There's no "make do", with me, EVER!! If it's more than I feel I can handle, then,...of course, it's shop time. However, That's on a waiting list, most of the time. There are those who, actually, want to play their piano before they die.<G>
Regards,
Joe


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Al Guecia/Allied PianoCraft 
To: joegarrett at earthlink.net;pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: 5/6/2012 11:35:07 AM 
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Weird Stuff in my week


Joe, when I hit 62, I said no more big jobs in customers homes. I tell then the piano must come into the shop. I add the cost of the move in the price and never had a custom say no. I also keep my mover busy and get a much better price for me and the customer. Win, win all around. Everybody makes money and the customer gets a much better job, because all the tools and parts I need are there, handy and there is no "make due with what you have".


Al -
High Point, NC






On May 6, 2012, at 1:18 PM, Joseph Garrett wrote:


Lim,
The entire project, (which is not complete yet), was replace the expanding leads, (also seal with Shellac), after repairing the split keys; replacing the moth eaten key bushings, (odd sized key pins); replacing the key frame felt, (custom made punchings for the fronts; removing the spilled milk residue on upper half of keys/frame, etc.; replacing 2 castors, which were not standard; replace the back cover w/speaker cloth, (frame had to be replaired first); clean/polish key pins; ease keys; repair warped keys. All of that has been done. Left to do in another session is leveling and setting dip of key; pitch raise to 435 cps and fine tuning. The lead removal/replacement/repairs took 4 hours in the shop...(actually the lead was removed outside while in "full Frog regalia"<G>; standard times for the key repairs, bushings and Ivory chip repair. (The Ivory is, for the most part, pristine...only 3 chips to Acrylikey<G>)
Part of the difficulty of this job, is the piano is in a basement family room, so many trips up/down the stairs was needed! (I'm gettng a bit too old for that crap, to be honest.<G>) Next time I'll get one of my apprentices to do the leg work. PHEW! It's Sunday and I'm still feeling it!
Regards,
Joe


----- Original Message ----- 
From: lim hock seng 
To: pianotech at ptg.org;joegarrett at earthlink.net
Sent: 5/6/2012 5:22:29 AM 
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Weird Stuff in my week


the expanding leads  wil be good enough.must be a
satisfying closure for the weekend 
Lim
On May 6, 2012 1:00 PM, "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Thought I'd enlighten.<G> Ran into a P.C. Weaver, upright. Pretty normal
> throughout ...except the bass tuning pin pattern/configuration.
> It had a 3 tuning pins pattern, instead of the normal 2 or 4. Really
> harkened me back to my beginners mode, since I had to trace all of the
> strings to make sure I was on the right pin!<G> After a fashion, I figured
> out the "system", but even then it was a mind bender. The "system" was,
> (going down in the bass w/mute strip in), bottom pin for first note; bottom
> pin for second note; middle pin for third note; middle pin for fourth note;
> top pin for fifth note; top pin for sixth note....then, do it all over
> again.< ;G>
> Today, a Pleyel Wolff, Upright, Flat Strung, Overdamper. Main problem:
> expanding leads and moth eaten keyframe felt. Yanked all of the olde felt
> out and did the pin clean/polish. Then replaced with "replica felt". The
> interesting thing was: both the Sharps and Naturals, balance rail pins had
> a route in the front half, so that the felt punching acted like the
> "clipped" punchings that we have discussed at length. BTW, this piano was
> made around 1887. The fact that it was flat strung, with a French style
> Overdamper Action, that had a real Unichorda and the balance pin thang, was
> interesting to be sure.
> So went my week....weird, weirder, and Whoa!<G>
> Regards,
>
> Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
> Captain of the Tool Police
> Squares R I
>
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