Discussion Posts

I have used Hickory for several pianos until i discovered Osage Orange. But yes it can be used for Bridge caps. First thing you need to do is get it cut into slabs and get it stickered, stacked and covered. And paint the ends. I usually let it air ...

I'm very happy with the BSI products. Peter Grey Piano Doctor ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH (603) 686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ------------------------------

Tim, Doesn't Chris Chernobieff use hickory for bridge caps? If he does, but does not see your post, you might want to reach out to him about your question. Best, Alan ------------------------------ Alan Eder, RPT Herb Alpert School of Music California ...

Hello, We had a large Mockernut hickory tree suddenly die this year. Since it was right on our property line and near the neighbor's house, we had to get it professionally taken down. The logs (see below) seem to be fairly nice. While I will process ...

I have used CA and baking soda, especially to repair stripped screw holes. It is indeed hard, though it is also brittle in my experiments. Joe

This is true. Evidently cigarette ashes act similarly according to another video. But i wouldn't take up the habit for it. I use a thickened rubber toughened CA adhesive from BSI. It is STRONG! It has saved my butt numerous times when I have needed ...

Peter's remark reminds me of something I've seen on youtube but don't recall mentioned on the forum. One can build up a strong material by using baking soda and then soaking with CA. Very hard and can be filed and sanded. There's a chemical bond ...

Joe, Once you get started you'll find it not as daunting as you thought. Also, the trick of reinforcing with a tiny dowel such as a toothpick (where possible) and/or gluing veneer or file card over and around a joint (e.g., broken key repair) and ...

Les, Thanks for the tip about this tool. It is indeed still offered by PianoForte Supply (now of Erwin lineage). Thanks also to Brenda Meng who sent this link for it, just in case others find themselves on a similar hunt: https://pianofortesupply.com/ ...

I had thought I might need to rebuild the butt if necessary, though a little wary of the stresses to that repair location. A little used note is a good solution. I have a few used butts on the way, but if those aren’t close enough a match, I may well ...

I see. I guess I will try correcting the root problem rather than changing other parts in the regulation. So I have the correct terms identified and I think the problem figured out. The hammer butt leathers are worn creating a little too much ...

Pressing the soft pedal does not alter the key/butt relationship. ------------------------------ Larry Messerly, RPT Bringing Harmony to Homes www.lacrossepianotuning.com ljmesserly@gmail.com 928-899-7292 ------------------------------

Do you mean move the the hammers forward to close the blow distance? Pressing the soft pedal accomplishes this and it doesn't help. I'm pretty sure the material between the hammer butt and jack has degraded creating too much friction for the jack to ...

Clint, Before you do anything else, if the dip is normal (3/8" or 10 mm) try adjusting the nut or capstan to raise one or two hammers that are giving you trouble. If raising them off of the hammer rest rail fixes the problem you can try raising all ...

Blaine, Loved that you said "another beginner here". I have only been doing this for 36 years and I learn something new almost every day and I have fun in the process! ------------------------------ Patrick Greene OWNER Knoxville TN (865) 384-6582 ...

The jack struggles or won't release from under the hammer butt when the key is pressed down to enable hammer drop to the backcheck with the key held down. There's no lost motion and it returns fine. ------------------------------ Clint Jones Santa ...

Are you saying the Jack , in the key stroke cycle, is not returning completely under the hammer butt? Is there any lost motion? (Space between top of jack and hammer butt when key stroke has yet to begin) http://bit.ly/Schedule_My_Piano ...

It's a Howard. The serial # is 50111. Yes, the material on the hammer butt is indeed a red leathery material, not felt like I wrote earlier. The blow distance is fine. Everything else in the stroke of the key and hammer mechanism seems to work fine ...

Joe, The action parts were reconditionable in that piano. Of course hammers, dampers, whip cloth, bushings, etc all were replaced. I had a lot of trouble with the dampers as I did not initially realize that original dimensions were critical to adhere ...

Hi CJ, you say this is a Baldwin spinet. This would be either an Acrosonic or Howard model. The actions are the same and they would be "drop actions" where the action is more or less below the level of the keys and attached with either a wood or wire ...

Thanks. I've gotten the keys pretty straight but I'll work on getting them perfect before moving on. The backcheck wires aren't rubbing against each other. ------------------------------ Clint Jones Santa Fe NM (858) 232-4965 -------------------- ...

Yes Joe, WNG, or anyone else, for that matter can make a mold to receive injected material. Last I spoke with them about this was a few years ago, but at that time, making a mold cost $10,000. ------------------------------ Alan Eder, RPT Herb Alpert ...

I did check, didn't see anything on their website. Another member responded that they have some extra butts that seem promising. It would seem to be possible for WNG to make almost any parts dimensions with their injection molding? Joe

Before you go 3d printing check with WNG to see if they have anything. ------------------------------ Parker Leigh RPT Winchester VA (540) 722-3865 ------------------------------

Before sanding the back of the key, make sure the fronts of the keys are properly aligned and straight. When the keys are properly aligned, then, yes, the easiest way to us to sand the keys. Once you've got the keys working, then you can bend the backcheck ...

Thx. I will just sand the keys. I removed a dip felt completely and the hammer wouldn't drop back with the key pressed down. Almost all the keys behave like this. I think the problem is the felts that the jack slides on are compressed/worn from ...

I would just sand it to clear the rubbing. You can also heat the wood and bend it back, but if it warped in the first place the warping might return. To heat it use a clothes iron, but don't break the key when you bend or twist it. If the back checks ...

Thanks for that Peter. I may have to go that route. I recall you were rescaling either a Steinway 100 or a 40 recently that you described on Pianotech. Did you replace parts as well? Joe

The back part of a few of the keys are rubbing against the next one causing the key to be harder to play. What is the best fix for this? My inexperienced instinct is to just sand it. Also I have to address my backchecks not working. Thinking about ...

Sounds like a job for a 3D printer. Contact Steve James @ 847.370.3754. If that fails I have someone here who is pretty handy with the thing. Peter Grey Piano Doctor ------------------------------ Peter Grey Stratham NH (603) 686-2395 pianodoctor57@gmail.com ...

Parker, I have some Tokiwa butts, Billings, but not compact. I haven't located compact Billings butts, though I haven't tried Brooks yet. Thanks for the suggestion. Joe

Hi- interesting comments…. I got them only about 2years ago and went with the brand that Medicare supports. I think they offered $2,000 toward the cost, but it has to be the TruHearing brand. I use them for conservations, but not too impressed. ...

Have you tried the Tokiwa Billings Butt? Normal compact is S2, sadly not Billings. Check with Brooks. ------------------------------ Parker Leigh RPT Winchester VA (540) 722-3865 ------------------------------

nope. Guess that didn't work... now hopefully ------------------------------ Joe Wiencek New York NY ------------------------------

Here's the picture. It would sure be great to be able to upload photos directly from email........ ------------------------------ Joe Wiencek New York NY ------------------------------

Dear Douglas THANKS! You're a star Best wishes David P -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - +44 1342 850594

I use Defouges in France. They will refelt in layers exactly like this. Their work DUPLICATES the originals. http://www.les-ateliers-desfougeres.com/GB/savoir-faire-regarnissage-presentation.html

I'm on my third pair. My hearing loss is unique to a specific job I had while in the Air Force so I've had some level of hearing loss since roughly 1969. It wasn't too bad at the beginning and, as long as I wore ear plugs when around machinery and tuning ...

I got mine about a year ago. I've known about diminished hearing for years, ever since Diane Hofsteder did some tests at an Annual Convention. She's the one who told me that losing just a few percent of your hearing at the highest frequencies can cause ...

I’m looking for a compact butt with Billings’ flange for Steinway 100. I can’t find anywhere that makes them for sale, so wondering if anyone out there has any spare butts. Trying to attach pic. Joe Wiencek

Thanks to ALL and hopefully this may be a topic of interest to many Fred in particular has long expertise in these matters and all suggestions from all are very helpful and appreciated. For those curious about what all the fuss is about, the hammers ...

Ok, keys are good. I can fine tune them as I go but they're good for now. I will do the let off next. I guess I will try closer but I can see how a 1/4" can be fine. Then I'll address this drop problem where I'll have to take the action out. Sorry, ...

You bet Alan! I'll keep you posted if the order comes through. So yes a heads up to everybody who used to like ordering from Pianotek, it's site is still running but I'm sure it's days are very numbered. ------------------------------ Ryan Sowers RPT ...

Wow, Ryan, I was not aware that Pianotek still had an independent website. If what you ordered is what I need, and you don't need two of them. I would be glad to purchase one from you. ------------------------------ Alan Eder, RPT Herb Alpert School ...

While it's true that Schaff acquired Pianotek, the website is still up and I have ordered items. They said they plan on shutting down the website sometime this year, but while it's working, I just went ahead and ordered 2 of the JCH-19 "Jack Regulating ...

Hey Ryan, As you probably know, Pianotek was absorbed by Schaff. When I spoke to their technical consultant, Allan, he told me that they did not have the tool I was describing, although they used to carry it. Too bad. When I inquired at our local ...

It has enough flex to allow you to leave the tool connected while you test. Les Koltvedt (404) 631-7177 LKPianos.com

Here's a picture of the tool in an action with spade type let-off screws. ------------------------------ Ryan Sowers RPT Olympia WA (360) 480-5648 ------------------------------

Several years ago, I accidently discovered that the so-called "jack regulating screwdriver" offered by piano tech is misnamed. It is completely useless as a jack screwdriver (for jack position) because the shank is way too long and thick. However, it's ...

A let off regulating tool for uprights with a flexible shaft would sure come in handy. Thanks for the lead, Les. Jurgen sold his business to the Erwin piano dynasty, so I will follow up by checking with them. Best, Alan ------------------------------ ...