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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Original Message:
Sent: 05-26-2020 09:26
From: Nate Reyburn
Subject: WNG Bushings
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
Original Message:
Sent: 05-25-2020 14:37
From: John Pope
Subject: WNG Bushings
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.