One option is to take a wire size bit (in the #15 - #9 area) and first see what size will go easily in and out, then move up to one that will remove a bit of material. Put it in a pin vise of some sort, and simply ream up and down, with the idea of mostly cleaning out gunk and removing glaze from the sides of the holes.
If I were going to actually ream, I'd get straight flute reamers from McMaster-Carr. The question would be what size, and that could only really be found out by experiment, with the bits (above) providing information. My Hubbard pins measure about .197". McMaster has .180", .1865" and .1885 that might be a good place to start (maybe others as well, as they have different sizes listed under different categories). They are around $15 - $20, so buying a few to experiment with would not be unreasonable. I'm not sure what size Hubbard uses to drill (my kit manual doesn't list it, as the block was already drilled). Again, I'd probably use a pin vise or the like (eg, I have a couple drill chucks I replaced or salvaged, that work pretty well for this purpose).
A further option is to apply powdered rosin, that can be had from sports stores. I haven't yet got around to experimenting with that on jumpy piano pins (maybe this summer), but others have reported success. A pipe cleaner, impregnated and run up and down each hole, for application.
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Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.eduhttp://fredsturm.nethttp://www.artoftuning.com"We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Casteneda
Original Message:
Sent: 06-14-2016 15:32
From: Donald McKechnie
Subject: tight & jumpy tuning pins
I have a customer who owns a Hubbard single manual that was purchased in the mid 90's. When it was new the tuning pins were very tight and jumpy making it a difficult process for him to tune. I tried it out back then and had a hard time as well. He lived with it as he was told by the folks at Hubbard it would settle in after a few years. I had no reason to contradict that statement at the time as I have seen harpsichords and pianos with this problem and they did settle in. This instrument did not. It still has tight and jumpy pins.
Off the top the only way I see to solve the problem is to remove the tuning pins and ream the holes. Obviously this could get tricky as I believe one can quickly overdo it. I am wondering what method of reaming to use. My guess is that it should be done by hand as power tools could make things go wrong with the slightest move. I have a good hand chuck but I'm wondering if there are sets of reamers that would work well for the job or will the correct drill bit work just as well?
Any thoughts, ideas or experiences to share?
Thanks!
Don
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[Don] [McKechnie,] [RPT]
[Piano Technician]
[dmckech@ithaca.edu]
[Home 607.277.7112]
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