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Steinway D pin replacement

  • 1.  Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-03-2019 13:09
    Replacing 2/0 tuning pin in Steinway D, juiced up with CA and still loose. If 3/0 replacement isn't tight enough, should I unscrew, swab hole with CA , allow few minutes to dry and screw back in?
          I'm concerned about possible jumpy pin. What you think?

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    Thomas Black
    Decatur AL
    256-350-9315
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  • 2.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-03-2019 13:22
    Thomas, 

    If you have one, I think I would hit the hole with a gun cleaning brush first. AFA CA glue goes, I have come to prefer the slightly flexible formula over the water thin. It does not harden as glassy hard as the thin, and has a bit more "body" to it. I use BSI "Insta-flex". 

    I do believe though that your proposed procedure will work for the time being. I would probably shoot it with accelerator too.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 3.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-03-2019 22:57
    I would use a sandpaper shim and keep the present pin.

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
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  • 4.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 08:42
    Thomas - I've done what you propose on a Yamaha C3 on several bass pins that were very loose. I removed the pin, swabbed the hole, coated the pin and then replaced. Nice and tight and not jumpy at all. Very pleased.

    Also, as Ed M. suggested, I have used sandpaper shims extensively in the past with very good results. I think I usually go with 120 grit or so.

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 5.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 08:50
    Terry,
          What do I use to swab the hole? Que tips? It drys so fast and I'm concerned the CA might melt a Que tip? I use the Loctite CA glue in the self applicator bottle but not sure of even application in empty hole.

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 6.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 09:12
    Thomas - I use a small dowel - something like a hammer shank. Seems to coat the hole pretty well to me. I also put a thin coat on the pin.

    For many field CA jobs I use the little teeny-tiny tubes of CA that ACE Hardware sells under their own brand. They are nice because they are sealed until you want to use them - very good thing here in Florida where they sit in my HOT car.

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 7.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 09:18
    Small dowel to apply CA. Thanks. Can you please refresh my memory on the sand paper procedure...120 only emery cloth , slick side to wall , grit due to pin screwed in not driven. Did I remember correctly? Thanks

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 8.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 09:39
    I've had success with a number of instruments with CA which would otherwise have gone to the bonfire. Uprights need to be turned on their back. Grands - ideally CA with a tiny applicator tube with a 1/2mm nozzle is brilliant in putting the CA right upon the pin at the edge of the hole and provided it's thin enough, it will go down with capillary action and soak into the wood likewise, and when done, go through the whole lot again until there's no hole around or next to the pin. 

    In the UK we have "Poundshops" and they sell three tubes of very thing CA for £1 with the 2 inch long applicator tube. It's a lifesaver for pianos.

    An 1819 instrument from the Colt Collection last June was unplayable. A friend bought two similar instruments from the same auction and told me I should have the tuning plank replaced. Um. Destructive and non-reversible. So at risk of being told CA wasn't reversible (there are ungluing products ;-) ) I used the CA technique multiple times and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjPDefnPQNU is the result with not too many notes now which are unstable. The CA treated pins are much more stable than more disturbed pins.

    Best wishes

    David P

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





  • 9.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-04-2019 08:55
    Jim,

    Coat the in with what? CA glue? Something else?

    Thanks,

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 10.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 09:04
    Terry,
         Please refresh my memory on the sandpaper fix. Do you use emery cloth 120. Cut to fit hole, not glued in hole with slick side to wall of hole and sand side toward pin, and screwed into hole not driven.

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 11.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 09:17
    Regular paper-type sandpaper. Cut to fill hole or perhaps a hair smaller. Not glued, sand side toward pin. Driven. I've always liked sandpaper shims because you can control tightness by choosing more or less course grit as well as how complete the shim covers the hole circumference. The feel is excellent - never had them be jumpy.

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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  • 12.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 09:22
    Terry,
    Thank you so much. Too many years since I used the paper but maybe we shouldn’t discard an ole technique.

    Sent from my iPhone




  • 13.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-04-2019 09:31
    Er, make that, "Coat the PIN with what?"

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 14.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 02-04-2019 19:41
    I have always used the sandpaper shim with the paper side towards the pin. That way the grit is the filler and the paper is; wood!

    I have tuned pianos that the pins were shimmed like that over 40 years ago and they still tune well. 120 grit preferrable garnet paper because so many of the better papers have oil in the grit to reduce clogging. We don't want oil in the block.

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    Edward McMorrow
    Edmonds WA
    425-299-3431
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  • 15.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 21:28
    Edward,
          Thanks for reminding us this ole sandpaper technique still may be relevant and useful in 2019. 

    Sent from my iPhone





  • 16.  RE: Steinway D pin replacement

    Posted 02-04-2019 22:45
    Alan Eder wrote:  "Coat the PIN with what?"

    Thin CA!

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
    ------------------------------