Pianotech

I am replacing all of the original and weak jack springs on a full upright made by Cable. Looking for the best way to hold and press the new spring into the whippen and seat it as far as possible. Perhaps duckbill pliers will work or maybe there is a tool that Schaff carries ? I have tried pliers and tweezers but they tend to distort the spring or catch on the spring coils. I ream out the hole with the Schaff reamer to get a clean hole and all of the old hot hide glue and add a drop or two of titebond before inserting the spring

I usually use tweezers.  I'll place the spring into the hole with a little dab of glue, then grab a few coils near the top and direct the tip of the spring into the jack.  It's a bit finicky, but it works.  I make sure the bottom of the spring is fully seated, again using the tweezers.  It's easier to do with the bridle straps disconnected so the wippen hangs down, using an action jig to hold everything.

I am replacing all of the original and weak jack springs on a full upright made by Cable. Looking for the best way to hold and press the new spring into the whippen and seat it as far as possible. Perhaps duckbill pliers will work or maybe there is a tool that Schaff carries ? I have tried pliers and tweezers but they tend to distort the spring or catch on the spring coils. I ream out the hole with the Schaff reamer to get a clean hole and all of the old hot hide glue and add a drop or two of titebond before inserting the spring

Like Paul said, a small flat screw driver is helpful to hold the spring down whilst removing the tweezers if they are catching.

I usually use tweezers.  I'll place the spring into the hole with a little dab of glue, then grab a few coils near the top and direct the tip of the spring into the jack.  It's a bit finicky, but it works.  I make sure the bottom of the spring is fully seated, again using the tweezers.  It's easier to do with the bridle straps disconnected so the wippen hangs down, using an action jig to hold everything.

I am replacing all of the original and weak jack springs on a full upright made by Cable. Looking for the best way to hold and press the new spring into the whippen and seat it as far as possible. Perhaps duckbill pliers will work or maybe there is a tool that Schaff carries ? I have tried pliers and tweezers but they tend to distort the spring or catch on the spring coils. I ream out the hole with the Schaff reamer to get a clean hole and all of the old hot hide glue and add a drop or two of titebond before inserting the spring