Pianotech

  • 1.  Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Posted 12-23-2017 15:22
    I was visiting a fellow techs shop today. First thing I noticed on a particular piano, was that he had painted the agraffes silver. He wasn't too happy with painting them, but his client wants this piano to have the String frame painted silver then laced with black felt. The brass look of the agraffes didn't fit the color scheme, thus painting them silver. 

    Questions:
    Can agraffe's be nickel plated?
    If so, do they have to be re-threaded?
    Can nickel plated or chrome plated agraffes be purchased somewhere?

    Thanks in advance
    -Chris
    #caveman​

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    A hunter's drumbeat steers the stampeding herd,
    His belly growls in hunger to what he sees.
    The mammoth aware blows his mighty trumpet,
    But alas, the caveman tickles the ivories.

    chernobieffpiano.com
    865-986-7720
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  • 2.  RE: Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-23-2017 17:03
    I've played with nickel plating.  Brass takes nickel plate quite well.  As for rethreading .... I dunno.  Mayhaps if you were to keep the plating from being exposed to the threads you wouldn't have to.  I'm not aware of any supply anywhere.  If the customer is happy with painting, then so be it.  Fast and cheap.
     
    And now the question ...... is nickel harder than piano wire?  Me thinks it is.  In time with repeated rendering through the aggraffe the string would most likely break. 
     
    Paint.  Fast and cheap.  No string breakage.



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-23-2017 17:52
    I recall reading that Austrailan piano builder Ron Overs uses plated agraffes, although I am not sure whether or not the plating is nickel. Anyone know for sure?

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Posted 12-23-2017 17:54
    Larry,
    I just checked the EZAC hardness scale. Looks like nickle is softer than steel.
    -chris

    ------------------------------
    A hunter's drumbeat steers the stampeding herd,
    His belly growls in hunger to what he sees.
    The mammoth aware blows his mighty trumpet,
    But alas, the caveman tickles the ivories.

    chernobieffpiano.com
    865-986-7720
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-24-2017 10:28
    I would just send a few along to whoever does your hardware plating on your next batch and see how they come out.

    The only risk I see is that sometimes nickel plating comes off or chips. If that were to occur in an agraffe I don't think it would take much imagination to figure out what might happen then.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Posted 12-24-2017 10:33
    Chipping can be a concern. I was thinking that when I saw they were painted. I don't know what kind if paint was used, but we'll see.



    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Posted 12-24-2017 11:06
    I routinely reuse agraffes, polishing them on a wheel then spraying them with lacquer. I ream the agraffes after I spray them, so the interface is not contaminated with the lacquer.

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    Floyd Gadd
    Regina SK
    306-502-9103
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-26-2017 12:21
    I just tuned a Seiler with nickel plated agraffes, the plate was also 'silvered'. I liked the look of it around the pins but the look of a silver plate against the warm brown of the case did not appeal to me.

    I asked the dealer about it. Seiler now owned by Samick apparently. Here's his reply:
    The nickel agraffes were part of a special cosmetic case package that also had a silver plate
    and black stringing felt, I think. It was all just an appearance thing. We only had one. The
    fact that the agraffes were nickel never came up so I have no info on that. 

    BTW, that piano is a honey.




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    Cindy Strehlow
    Urbana, IL
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Nickel Plated Agraffes

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 12-26-2017 12:43
    Steinways with the Sterling Package have plated agraffes. You might be able to buy them from the parts department. Or you could just buy them direct from Klinke,or see if Mr.Goering would order them for you. Samick had previously sold the Pramberger piano with a dead on knock off of the Sterling color scheme.

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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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    Original Message