Pianotech

  • 1.  How much plain wire material needed for restringing small and mid-size grands?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-12-2019 22:42

    Hi all,

    I know that I've read somewhere a chart with estimations of how much plain wire (in weight, or in coils with a certain weight) is needed for a complete restringing of a typical small or mid-size grand, but I can't seem to find it anywhere right now. All of you with experience, could you give me some kind of ballpark figure, or direct me to a such a chart?

    The question is a general one, but the first project where I'd need to land close enough regarding needed material is the restringing of a Steinway A.



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    Patrick Wingren, RPT
    Jakobstad, Finland
    0035844-5288048
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  • 2.  RE: How much plain wire material needed for restringing small and mid-size grands?

    Posted 05-12-2019 23:17
    I'd say a chart is a moot point, because you need to buy at least a 1lb or 500kg roll of each of the sizes in your scale to string. I never count or weigh what I use...just watch the coils and reorder when they are getting close. That's not a a wise-ass answer, just a practical reality. 1lb or 500kg, of each size, depending on whether its USA or European material is what you need to start.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 3.  RE: How much plain wire material needed for restringing small and mid-size grands?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-12-2019 23:37
    500 kg is a little excessive, I would just go with one lb.

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    Zeno Wood
    Brooklyn, NY
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  • 4.  RE: How much plain wire material needed for restringing small and mid-size grands?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-12-2019 23:52
    Jim probably meant 0.5 kg. That's just a bit more than 1 lb. 

    Please, let's drop the archaic Imperial units of measure. There are only three nations on Earth still using this incoherent system. The other two are Liberia and Myanmar (Burma). 

    ddf
    --
    Delwin D Fandrich
    Fandrich Piano Company, Inc.
    Piano Design and Manufacturing Consulting Services -- Worldwide
    6939 Foothill Ct SW -- Olympia, WA 98512 -- USA
    Phone 360.515.0119 -- Mobile 360.388.6525





  • 5.  RE: How much plain wire material needed for restringing small and mid-size grands?

    Posted 05-13-2019 08:09
    oops...make that 500g.

    Confused it with the 2kg coils I get from Paullelo. The 2kg coil is close to a 5lb coil (4.4lbs).  I've been struggling with making the conversion to metric...making some progress. I no longer keep  a 6" stainless scale in my shirt pocket, but rather a 150mm rule. Its getting better, but, obviously, not quite there yet.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 6.  RE: How much plain wire material needed for restringing small and mid-size grands?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 05-14-2019 22:23

    :) I had the same kind of trouble when I lived in the US for four years in the 1990's, and I'm still converting all units in my head (or with a calculator, if need arises.)

    Jim: I do have all wire diameters since long ago (Röslau and Paulello 1, I use the latter for historical instruments), I just remember that I saw some kind of chart at some stage for estimating how much wire is needed for a few selected pianos of different sizes. I think the needed material was given in weight. I guess it could come in handy if there are several grands that need restringing back to back -- a situation I might find myself in sometimes in the near future.



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    Patrick Wingren, RPT
    Jakobstad, Finland
    0035844-5288048
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