Pianotech

Greetings all,

Remember Click and Clack, the Car Talk guys? Their motto was, "The stingy man pays the most."

Since the price of the standard Schaff Steinway flange tool is is $140, I figured I'd try to same some $ by buying one for half the price on Ebay that was advertised as being for Steinway and Yamaha. However, the Steinway end is just slightly too small to fit a Steinway flange by about 3/100". I suppose I can try to return it and spring for the more expensive one, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and found a solution.

I don't think it can be bent, but I guess I can take it to a machine shop and see if they could grind out the inside dimensions a bit. Any other suggestions?

(And no, I don't think filing down every Steinway flange would be a great idea...)

Maybe some of these tools are ok, but for those considering buy one, I'd say don't waste your money. If you read one of my editorials a couple of years ago, you could call it "Rabbi money": I paid the Rabbi, and YOU learned the lesson!

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Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
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Scott,

I have a couple of "similar" tools to yours (one doubtlessly intended for SS), but I can honestly say I NEVER use them. The SS one won't fit between flanges because they're too close together and the "wings" are too fat anyway. If I ground them down enough to fit they'd probably break within a minute or two of usage. 

I rely on traditional "paperwork" to make it all happen. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
(603) 686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-05-2025 17:15
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Poorly fitting Steinway flange tool

Greetings all,

Remember Click and Clack, the Car Talk guys? Their motto was, "The stingy man pays the most."

Since the price of the standard Schaff Steinway flange tool is is $140, I figured I'd try to same some $ by buying one for half the price on Ebay that was advertised as being for Steinway and Yamaha. However, the Steinway end is just slightly too small to fit a Steinway flange by about 3/100". I suppose I can try to return it and spring for the more expensive one, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and found a solution.

I don't think it can be bent, but I guess I can take it to a machine shop and see if they could grind out the inside dimensions a bit. Any other suggestions?

(And no, I don't think filing down every Steinway flange would be a great idea...)

Maybe some of these tools are ok, but for those considering buy one, I'd say don't waste your money. If you read one of my editorials a couple of years ago, you could call it "Rabbi money": I paid the Rabbi, and YOU learned the lesson!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------