[AT] OT - using pitchfork

[Larry D. Goss]

I would guess that the pin block may have been pretty much shot before
it got the pin tightener treatment.  And, it could be that the pin
tightener was not applied correctly.  You have to have an upright piano
laying on its back and you have to keep the liquid off the coil of wire
on the tuning pins.  Otherwise, it won't work right.

I've got a bunch of shims, too, but I'd prefer to put in oversize tuning
pins before using them.  It's the same amount of work, but I trust them
better.  Which would you rather do to a tractor engine, use shims on rod
bearings? Or turn down the journals and use undersize inserts?

Larry

-----Original Message-----
From: at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com
[mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Thomas O.
Mehrkam
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 6:46 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] OT - using pitchfork

The Tuning Pin tightener is death to pianos. No good piano tuner will 
use it. It destroys the pin block. It will hold for a while and will 
never hold tune after that. I had a tuner do that to an Antique piano of

mine It Held tune for about a year. After that no luck at all. I gave it

away to a Piano restorer who was going to build a new pin block.

The correct way to fix the problem is with shims. It takes a lot more
time.

The pin tightener causes the wood to rot.

PS: if you want to tighten the handle soak it in water. It works for 
hammers and axes.

Mike Sloane wrote:
> 
> 
> Larry D. Goss wrote:
> 
>> Tuning pin tightener.
>>
>> FWIW, this is a common problem in pianos.  Tuning pins are only held
in
>> by friction and when the maple dries out over time they loosen up and
>> the piano will no longer hold its tune.  There is a product made to
>> solve the problem.  It's called Tuning Pin Tightener.  Anybody can
make
>> it though; it's a 50/50 mixture of alcohol and glycerin.  I use Solox
>> for the alcohol, but any source will do.
> 
> We had an antique Chickoring upright with that problem, and that is
how 
> the tuner fixed things. But it still wouldn't hold the tune. We had a 
> hard time finding a home for that instrument, even giving it away. It 
> must have weighed close to 1000 lbs and took 4 very big guys to move
it.
> 
>>
>> If you have a really large gap in the handle, then apply some Gorilla
>> Glue to the application before you insert the tang in the hole.  This
is
>> an expanding weatherproof glue that can be used to reconstruct wood
>> after it has been miss cut.  The more it's constrained while it's
>> setting, the more dense the resulting joint.  Available at Home Depot
>> and other such places.
> 
> Yes, Gorilla glue is great stuff, but once you put it on a handle, you

> will never get it off if the handle breaks. Also, use rubber gloves
when 
> working with the stuff, or it will turn your fingers black where it 
> sits. (Don't ask me how I know this!)
> 
> Mike
> 
>>
>> Larry
>>
> 

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