Pianotech

  • 1.  partial re-stringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-30-2017 08:29
    Hi All,

    I'm about to restring just the capo section on a 40 year old Baldwin L in one of our practice rooms. I've never restrung just a section other than a set of bass strings.

    Should I lower the tension on the whole piano when restringing the top? It seems to make sense, but just wanted a bit of feedback before I dive in.

    This will be the first of 10 Baldwins that have chronic string breakage in the capo section.

    Thanks for any advice!

    Paul


  • 2.  RE: partial re-stringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-30-2017 15:14
    Paul,

    Personally I probably wouldn't worry about it. But, then again I might do one section at a time to minimize tension differences (though I believe the plate can easily take it without any damage).

    Are you replacing pins also, or using the dummy pin method with the originals?

    Pwg

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


  • 3.  RE: partial re-stringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-31-2017 07:20
    Peter,

    I'm using the original pins. The previous tech here at U of SC used pretty big pins and very tight. What seems to work on another Baldwin I just finished (Whole piano re-strung) was unscrewing them all the way out and then all the way back in and then dummy the coil and finish up.  Now the torque is much better.

    Paul



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: partial re-stringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-31-2017 09:09
    Paul -
    With this sort of situation, it might be helpful if you could cite some actual torque numbers.  How tight WERE they, originally, and what are they now?  What is the diameter and length of current pins?   Are there any other characteristics of the pin behavior, positive or otherwise, that you noticed?  It can be interesting to test the torque with and without string tension, since you were tapping unstrung pins back down.  On that, you said that you unscrewed pins all the way out, and then all the way back in.  By hand, or electric?  Did you mic and identify pin manufacture? What did they look like, vis a vis threads being clogged?   Given that you were restringing entire piano, I'm not sure why you opted for this approach rather than new pins and coil as you go.  Unscrew, screw back, dummy pin seems like extra work... and you miss the chance to his things with a hammer.

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    David Skolnik
    Hastings-on-Hudson NY
    914-231-7565
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: partial re-stringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-31-2017 10:13
    David,  I don't have a torque wrench, but I can tell you the pins are a tight as the later year Baldwin uprights, popping and very difficult to set the pins.  After getting the pins up and back down, they're more like a new Steinway as far as feeling. I have to do this to many Baldwins on as little money as possible as we are in a pretty big budget reduction this year and maybe next as well. They are 4/0 2.5" pins.



    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: partial re-stringing

    Posted 08-30-2017 16:23
    You can also just do one wire gage section. I'd probably just two unisons which encompasses three loops. That way there's no major tension change and the new wires are brought to pitch. And if something calls me away, the piano is not left in limbo.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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