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WNG Bushings

  • 1.  WNG Bushings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-25-2020 14:37
    I have a new set of WNG shanks and many of the flanges are measuring at about 2g of friction. From past experience I believe I can get better tone with more like 4 or 6 so I set about repinning.

    The main problem is that I keep pushing out bushings! WNG's instructions say that if a bushing comes out, that shank is toast. But you only get 2 extra shanks in a set. I've popped out 3 and I'm less than halfway through. When you put one back in it seems to stay.However it seems to grip inordinately tightly to the pin at that point. On a previous set I ended up heating some of these to loosen them.

    This is my third set of parts to try and repin. The other frustration is that some of these are already pinned with the second largest size. If I ever want to repin again there will be nowhere to go.

    I've been mostly happy with WNG parts. Part of what I was happy about was the idea that a hard bushing could have less side to side play and hold it's friction levels despite humidity fluctuation, but if I can't get them pinned like I want them in the first place...

    Does it help to use their pin removal tool? Any experienced input would be appreciated.


  • 2.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-25-2020 14:41
    Do you have the bushing retaining tool?  It is a simple little plastic fixture, that keeps the bushing from pushing out when repinning.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 3.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-25-2020 14:42
    I also always use their pinning tool...it quite nice for most regular pins too.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 4.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-25-2020 16:10
    facepalm
    Yes. I do have the bushing retaining tool. Thank you for reminding me of its existence.

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    John Pope
    University of Kentucky School of Music
    Lexington, KY
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  • 5.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-25-2020 16:38
    Well, it seems the bushing retaining tool is fashioned to help when inserting a new pin. I need to figure out how to protect the bushing when removing one. Something flat with the right sized hole should do the job.

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    John Pope
    University of Kentucky School of Music
    Lexington, KY
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  • 6.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-25-2020 17:50
    We generally don't have to use the bushing retainer. Perhaps the WNG pin tool is the reason, as its function is more precise than the supply house ones. I actually spent some time truing up my supply house one, but only use the WNG tool at this point, as we both much prefer it, and it does not do bad things to the bushings that you are experiencing.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 7.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-26-2020 09:19
      |   view attached
    A piece of dulled razor blade glued to my old Tuners Supply pin extractor seems to be doing the trick.





  • 8.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-26-2020 09:27

    What is taught at the WNG class is that the 5+g friction, as we know, is accepted as necessary for wood parts to strike along a clean line and produce desirable tone. When they're drilled, the tiny bit hits grain lines and gets forced off course. That means one bushing opening will always be shaped/sized differently enough to require more bushing tension between the hole and pin to compensate. Pin it too light, and one side will have slop, and it will wander and wobble on the way to the string. 

    The composite parts are nice because the material is very consistent. Drilling is done similarly, but the results are such that you only need 1-2g for a consistent strike. Ultimately, use your ears with a given set, and figure out what works best. No sense repinning a whole set because that's what you had to do on the last set, if it's not needed on this one.



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    http://www.facebook.com/ReyburnPianoTech
    http://www.reyburntools.com
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  • 9.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-26-2020 15:36
    I accepted Bruce's reasoning re friction for a couple of years, until I started to see tonal evidence, in my own work, re higher shank frictions, even with these parts. They are great parts, and the only shanks I use...but I now pin tighter, with the 6g going in the treble.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 10.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-26-2020 16:30
    That's why we use our ears, Jim! Good going!

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    http://www.facebook.com/ReyburnPianoTech
    http://www.reyburntools.com
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  • 11.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-26-2020 20:36
    Jim-
    6g = ? grams or swings?

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    Ed Sutton
    ed440@me.com
    (980) 254-7413
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  • 12.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-26-2020 20:40
    I don't know...I don't measure that way.  6g measured 20mm from the center.  Different weight hammers swing different amounts given the same friction, so I prefer, on grands, to just measure the friction. With WNG parts, for me, this is done before hanging the hammers.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-27-2020 06:25

    Nina Butler had informed me that if you want a higher friction level, you can request it when you order them.  I prefer mine on the higher side ( for tonal reasons) and they will pin however you like.

    The pinning kit that WNG sells is well worth the investment if you are going to work with these. Comes with the extractor tool, burnishers, and an assortment of pins/with case.  I also go the hammer extracting tool, which is designed for the shank size.

     

    Tom Servinsky 

    Registered Piano Technician

    Concert Artist Piano Technician

    Director/Conductor- Academy Orchestra

    Assist. Conductor-Treasure Coast Youth Symphony

    Clarinetist-Atlantic Classical Orchestra

    tompiano@tomservinsky.com

    772 221 1011 office

    772 260 7110 cell

     






  • 14.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-27-2020 08:11
    I hate this new protocol for low friction. HATE !
    I'm trying to regulate new parts and can not get the jacks to reset ("wink") without having the repetition spring to be of such high tension that you feel the impact of the rep lever into the upstop screw. Uncomfortably distracting. Now I'll have to remove all parts and repin the hammer flanges and rep levers to make it work properly.  Is this 'new' protocol just to cover poor manufacturing aspects?  Good thing I have time on my hands...

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 15.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-27-2020 08:27
    Started removing parts. #1 rep lever has zero friction, the needle on the Correx gage didn't budge​. Hammer flange about 2 grams, if that. #@&%$#@ ! !​

    BTW, these are not WNG parts.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 16.  RE: WNG Bushings

    Posted 05-27-2020 08:37
    what parts are they?

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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