Pianotech

  • 1.  Silly question about stainless steel wire for stringing

    Posted 10-08-2021 06:51
    Apologies for asking a silly question. My grandmother would warn me to expect silly answers . . . however . . . 

    In the way internet algorithms bring odd things to the fore, ebay today decided I might be interested in Stainless Steel Craft Wire Many Sizes Coil Accessory Beading DIY Jewelry WY | eBay
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    Stainless Steel Craft Wire Many Sizes Coil Accessory Beading DIY Jewelry WY | eBay
    Excludes: Channel Islands, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Scilly Isles, Scottish Highlands, Scottish Islands, Northern Ireland, Africa, Asia, Central America and Caribbean, Denmark, Switzerland, Vatican City State, Moldova, Croatia, Republic of, Portugal, Malta, Cyprus, Austria, Gibraltar, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Norway, Andorra, Greece, Romania, San Marino, Ireland, Serbia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Belarus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Sweden, Iceland, Spain, Estonia, Macedonia, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Finland, Luxembourg, Russian Federation, France, Germany, Latvia, Albania, Italy, Guernsey, Monaco, Ukraine, Jersey, Middle East, North America, Oceania, South East Asia, South America, PO Box
    View this on eBay >

    Has anyone looked at Stainless Steel for stringing? Presumably mult core wire such as this would be problemmatic through agraffes . . . but might be easy to handle.

    Best wishes

    David P




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    David Pinnegar BSc ARCS
    Hammerwood Park, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK
    +44 1342 850594
    "High Definition" Tuning
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  • 2.  RE: Silly question about stainless steel wire for stringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-08-2021 09:36
    Never mind the usefulness of stainless steel wire, it looks like you can’t get it anyway. I don’t known where this company is located, but it looks like he only wants to sell it to his neighbors who live on his block.

    Wim

    Sent from my iPhone


    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Silly question about stainless steel wire for stringing

    Posted 10-08-2021 09:57
    Not quite. I'm in the UK so they're probably saying they only ship to UK. But you'll no doubt find US sellers selling exactly the same in the US. My grandmother's warning was apt. Here's a US seller https://www.ebay.com/itm/264136246763

    The mad question is whether it's of any use.

    • 16 Gauge (1.30mm) - 5 Yard Spool
    • 18 Gauge (1.00mm) - 7 Yard Spool
    • 20 Gauge (0.81mm) - 10 Yard Spool 
    • 22 Gauge (0.64mm) - 15 Yard Spool
    • 24 Gauge (0.51mm) - 20 Yard Spool
    • 26 Gauge (0.40mm) - 30 Yard Spool  
    • 28 Gauge (0.32mm) - 40 Yard Spool
    And they even supply it in colours . . . ;-)

    This question might not be quite as daft as an experimenter on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RyjoXVDqUs who takes experimentation to another level.

    Best wishes

    David P

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    David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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    +44 1342 850594



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Silly question about stainless steel wire for stringing

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-09-2021 10:08
    David,

    Tempting, but I highly doubt it would have any usefulness in our trade. Years ago a valiant attempt was made to produce piano wire from stainless steel. Puresound was the name spearheaded by Juan Mas Cabre in the Netherlands. 

    While it had some very desirable qualities about it, one BIG drawback was it's tendency to break too easily. This could be mitigated somewhat by very careful handling, however it just didn't "cut the mustard" in the real world. The weakness seemed to be inherent in the metallurgy of the "stainless" formula, and though some tweaking improved it, it just wasn't enough and it has gone away. 

    The pianos I strung with it sounded great, and the stability was beyond belief. But alas, after replacing wire after wire after wire, I gave up. Too bad, as I had hoped it would work. 

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Silly question about stainless steel wire for stringing

    Posted 10-10-2021 12:03
    Yes, I had the same experience, even with the improved stronger Puresound wire. I've restrung with Mapes International Gold. Too bad, cause we have wire rusting problems in our building here. The stainless wire David is looking at will not
    even be as strong as the improved Puresound wire....(which was NOT cheap, either!)....esp. if you have to replace it after strings start breaking all over the place! Lesson learned.....I'd like to try some Paulello nickel wire some day. Maybe it wouldn't rust and also not break? R

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    Richard Adkins
    Piano Technician and
    Curator of Instruments
    Coe College
    Cedar Rapids, IA
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    Original Message