Pianotech

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

Hi Scott,

There is a tool, available from Pianotek, that greatly facilitates getting a steel wire under the bass strings. It's an extendable brass tube that you load with the wire and pass under the overstrung section.

The Stringer II, Part STG-2000, catalog page D-32.
https://www.pianoteksupply.com/product/2232/The-Stringer-II.aspx

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

I always take the time to straighten the wire from my 1/4lb reel as best I can, usually over my knee. I have a device with 3 metal wheels that can do this but it's made for larger stock and is a bit clumsy to use if you're just going to do one wire. Would love to have one made for piano wire sizes. The straightened wire is much easier to maneuver especially if you've got a bend in the middle for the hitch pin. It makes it easier to take up the slack in order to cut the strings to size accurately.
Some people use telescoping sections of drapery tracks that are made of thin sheet metal, would probably be especially helpful on big grands in the tenor section. A little less refined than the tool David mentions but it works.

Sorry, no pics.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 00:41
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Hi Scott,

There is a tool, available from Pianotek, that greatly facilitates getting a steel wire under the bass strings. It's an extendable brass tube that you load with the wire and pass under the overstrung section.

The Stringer II, Part STG-2000, catalog page D-32.
https://www.pianoteksupply.com/product/2232/The-Stringer-II.aspx

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

I'm in the middle of restringing a Kawai KG-2.  I had first replaced the bass strings, and then my client decided to replace all the rest of her rusty strings.  So, I had to go under all of those bass strings.  I wish I'd had the Stringer.  I don't usually do restringing, but she's a long time client and I couldn't refuse the job.  I discovered that those 1/4lb reels with the brake actually work to straighten the string as it comes through the brake.  The trick is that as they come from the supply house, there's not enough bend in the brake to do the job.  You have to bend it much more so that the wire comes off almost perpendicular to the coil.  For all these years,  I have always had to bend the wire 90 degrees at the end to prevent the wire from coming out of the brake, but after I began modifying the brakes, I found I don't need to do that.  The wire doesn't slip out because of the friction.  In effect, the brake becomes a wire straightener.  Who knew?  It does make the job of restringing under the bass strings much easier when you have straight wire.  Of course, it's not perfectly straight, but much more manageable than when it's all curled up.

------------------------------
Paul McCloud, RPT
Accutone Piano Service
www.AccutonePianoService.com
pavadasa@gmail.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 01:28
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

I always take the time to straighten the wire from my 1/4lb reel as best I can, usually over my knee. I have a device with 3 metal wheels that can do this but it's made for larger stock and is a bit clumsy to use if you're just going to do one wire. Would love to have one made for piano wire sizes. The straightened wire is much easier to maneuver especially if you've got a bend in the middle for the hitch pin. It makes it easier to take up the slack in order to cut the strings to size accurately.
Some people use telescoping sections of drapery tracks that are made of thin sheet metal, would probably be especially helpful on big grands in the tenor section. A little less refined than the tool David mentions but it works.

Sorry, no pics.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 00:41
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Hi Scott,

There is a tool, available from Pianotek, that greatly facilitates getting a steel wire under the bass strings. It's an extendable brass tube that you load with the wire and pass under the overstrung section.

The Stringer II, Part STG-2000, catalog page D-32.
https://www.pianoteksupply.com/product/2232/The-Stringer-II.aspx

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

Thanks for the replies all, but...
I'm not just looking for short replies. I'm actually looking for a Journal article with photos that shows how YOU do these things.
Next time you replace a long string, take a bunch of photos and send them in.

I do have one of the those stringer tools, but I don't see that they're very useful for grands. Am I wrong?
thanks!

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

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 01:48
From: Paul McCloud
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

I'm in the middle of restringing a Kawai KG-2.  I had first replaced the bass strings, and then my client decided to replace all the rest of her rusty strings.  So, I had to go under all of those bass strings.  I wish I'd had the Stringer.  I don't usually do restringing, but she's a long time client and I couldn't refuse the job.  I discovered that those 1/4lb reels with the brake actually work to straighten the string as it comes through the brake.  The trick is that as they come from the supply house, there's not enough bend in the brake to do the job.  You have to bend it much more so that the wire comes off almost perpendicular to the coil.  For all these years,  I have always had to bend the wire 90 degrees at the end to prevent the wire from coming out of the brake, but after I began modifying the brakes, I found I don't need to do that.  The wire doesn't slip out because of the friction.  In effect, the brake becomes a wire straightener.  Who knew?  It does make the job of restringing under the bass strings much easier when you have straight wire.  Of course, it's not perfectly straight, but much more manageable than when it's all curled up.

------------------------------
Paul McCloud, RPT
Accutone Piano Service
www.AccutonePianoService.com
pavadasa@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 01:28
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

I always take the time to straighten the wire from my 1/4lb reel as best I can, usually over my knee. I have a device with 3 metal wheels that can do this but it's made for larger stock and is a bit clumsy to use if you're just going to do one wire. Would love to have one made for piano wire sizes. The straightened wire is much easier to maneuver especially if you've got a bend in the middle for the hitch pin. It makes it easier to take up the slack in order to cut the strings to size accurately.
Some people use telescoping sections of drapery tracks that are made of thin sheet metal, would probably be especially helpful on big grands in the tenor section. A little less refined than the tool David mentions but it works.

Sorry, no pics.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 00:41
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Hi Scott,

There is a tool, available from Pianotek, that greatly facilitates getting a steel wire under the bass strings. It's an extendable brass tube that you load with the wire and pass under the overstrung section.

The Stringer II, Part STG-2000, catalog page D-32.
https://www.pianoteksupply.com/product/2232/The-Stringer-II.aspx

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

Sorry, this is only a short reply again, but I can't find my jig right now.  It is a piece of steel automotive brake line, hammered shut at one end, with two holes drilled into the line through the hammered portion to allow the insertion of the ends of the wire.

------------------------------
Floyd Gadd RPT
Regina SK
(306) 502-9103
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 10:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Thanks for the replies all, but...
I'm not just looking for short replies. I'm actually looking for a Journal article with photos that shows how YOU do these things.
Next time you replace a long string, take a bunch of photos and send them in.

I do have one of the those stringer tools, but I don't see that they're very useful for grands. Am I wrong?
thanks!

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

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 01:48
From: Paul McCloud
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

I'm in the middle of restringing a Kawai KG-2.  I had first replaced the bass strings, and then my client decided to replace all the rest of her rusty strings.  So, I had to go under all of those bass strings.  I wish I'd had the Stringer.  I don't usually do restringing, but she's a long time client and I couldn't refuse the job.  I discovered that those 1/4lb reels with the brake actually work to straighten the string as it comes through the brake.  The trick is that as they come from the supply house, there's not enough bend in the brake to do the job.  You have to bend it much more so that the wire comes off almost perpendicular to the coil.  For all these years,  I have always had to bend the wire 90 degrees at the end to prevent the wire from coming out of the brake, but after I began modifying the brakes, I found I don't need to do that.  The wire doesn't slip out because of the friction.  In effect, the brake becomes a wire straightener.  Who knew?  It does make the job of restringing under the bass strings much easier when you have straight wire.  Of course, it's not perfectly straight, but much more manageable than when it's all curled up.

------------------------------
Paul McCloud, RPT
Accutone Piano Service
www.AccutonePianoService.com
pavadasa@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 01:28
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

I always take the time to straighten the wire from my 1/4lb reel as best I can, usually over my knee. I have a device with 3 metal wheels that can do this but it's made for larger stock and is a bit clumsy to use if you're just going to do one wire. Would love to have one made for piano wire sizes. The straightened wire is much easier to maneuver especially if you've got a bend in the middle for the hitch pin. It makes it easier to take up the slack in order to cut the strings to size accurately.
Some people use telescoping sections of drapery tracks that are made of thin sheet metal, would probably be especially helpful on big grands in the tenor section. A little less refined than the tool David mentions but it works.

Sorry, no pics.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 00:41
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Hi Scott,

There is a tool, available from Pianotek, that greatly facilitates getting a steel wire under the bass strings. It's an extendable brass tube that you load with the wire and pass under the overstrung section.

The Stringer II, Part STG-2000, catalog page D-32.
https://www.pianoteksupply.com/product/2232/The-Stringer-II.aspx

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

Scott,

Have you searched the new Journal index in the new PTG Education Hub?   Here is the link.  Your can quickly search '79 - now (well not sure how many of this years journals have been added). 

https://my.ptg.org/ptgeducation/index

Hope this helps

Kenneth Jeffs

------------------------------
Kenneth Jeffs, RPT
Chesterfield, MO
kenneth@curtisreso.com
(314) 960-6389
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 10:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Thanks for the replies all, but...
I'm not just looking for short replies. I'm actually looking for a Journal article with photos that shows how YOU do these things.
Next time you replace a long string, take a bunch of photos and send them in.

I do have one of the those stringer tools, but I don't see that they're very useful for grands. Am I wrong?
thanks!

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

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 01:48
From: Paul McCloud
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

I'm in the middle of restringing a Kawai KG-2.  I had first replaced the bass strings, and then my client decided to replace all the rest of her rusty strings.  So, I had to go under all of those bass strings.  I wish I'd had the Stringer.  I don't usually do restringing, but she's a long time client and I couldn't refuse the job.  I discovered that those 1/4lb reels with the brake actually work to straighten the string as it comes through the brake.  The trick is that as they come from the supply house, there's not enough bend in the brake to do the job.  You have to bend it much more so that the wire comes off almost perpendicular to the coil.  For all these years,  I have always had to bend the wire 90 degrees at the end to prevent the wire from coming out of the brake, but after I began modifying the brakes, I found I don't need to do that.  The wire doesn't slip out because of the friction.  In effect, the brake becomes a wire straightener.  Who knew?  It does make the job of restringing under the bass strings much easier when you have straight wire.  Of course, it's not perfectly straight, but much more manageable than when it's all curled up.

------------------------------
Paul McCloud, RPT
Accutone Piano Service
www.AccutonePianoService.com
pavadasa@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 01:28
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

I always take the time to straighten the wire from my 1/4lb reel as best I can, usually over my knee. I have a device with 3 metal wheels that can do this but it's made for larger stock and is a bit clumsy to use if you're just going to do one wire. Would love to have one made for piano wire sizes. The straightened wire is much easier to maneuver especially if you've got a bend in the middle for the hitch pin. It makes it easier to take up the slack in order to cut the strings to size accurately.
Some people use telescoping sections of drapery tracks that are made of thin sheet metal, would probably be especially helpful on big grands in the tenor section. A little less refined than the tool David mentions but it works.

Sorry, no pics.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 12-21-2022 00:41
From: David Trasoff
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Hi Scott,

There is a tool, available from Pianotek, that greatly facilitates getting a steel wire under the bass strings. It's an extendable brass tube that you load with the wire and pass under the overstrung section.

The Stringer II, Part STG-2000, catalog page D-32.
https://www.pianoteksupply.com/product/2232/The-Stringer-II.aspx

------------------------------
David Trasoff
Whatcom Piano Service
(360) 389-2158
david@whatcompianoservice.com

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

The old-fashioned way is to buy a straight hollow curtain rod, take the ends off to use the hollow portion as a "guide" for the string to be passed through to the hitch pin.  Put the rod in the space where the sets of strings overlap, pointing towards the hitch pin you will be using.  Push the new wire through the hollow rod possibly with the U-bend already squeezed to put over the hitch pin. Use your best judgement about this. The Pianotek Stringer is a more elegant way.

------------------------------
Patsi Franklin RPT
Maitland FLFranklin
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

https://share.icloud.com/photos/03csbCt98oCl37N2QTae74V7w

------------------------------
Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2022 12:05
From: Patsi Franklin
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

The old-fashioned way is to buy a straight hollow curtain rod, take the ends off to use the hollow portion as a "guide" for the string to be passed through to the hitch pin.  Put the rod in the space where the sets of strings overlap, pointing towards the hitch pin you will be using.  Push the new wire through the hollow rod possibly with the U-bend already squeezed to put over the hitch pin. Use your best judgement about this. The Pianotek Stringer is a more elegant way.

------------------------------
Patsi Franklin RPT
Maitland FLFranklin

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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

https://share.icloud.com/photos/03csbCt98oCl37N2QTae74V7w

------------------------------
Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2022 12:30
From: Larry Messerly
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

https://share.icloud.com/photos/03csbCt98oCl37N2QTae74V7w

------------------------------
Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292

Original Message:
Sent: 12-23-2022 12:05
From: Patsi Franklin
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

The old-fashioned way is to buy a straight hollow curtain rod, take the ends off to use the hollow portion as a "guide" for the string to be passed through to the hitch pin.  Put the rod in the space where the sets of strings overlap, pointing towards the hitch pin you will be using.  Push the new wire through the hollow rod possibly with the U-bend already squeezed to put over the hitch pin. Use your best judgement about this. The Pianotek Stringer is a more elegant way.

------------------------------
Patsi Franklin RPT
Maitland FLFranklin

Original Message:
Sent: 12-20-2022 23:53
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Practical Technician challenge

Greetings all,
I have a Practical Technician article challenge that grew out of a broken string last summer.
Generally, broken strings don't give me any issues. However, this one was one of the lowest plain wire tenor strings on a large, old Steinway, maybe an A.

I eventually installed a new wire, but it wasn't easy on a long, under-strung tenor. Even getting the correct-size wire out was a challenge; luckily the customer helped me. After we got the proper amount of wire out, he left to pursue other activities, leaving me to get this coil
on the hitch pin and then somehow not tangled in the other wires on the way to the agraffe. And of course without scratching the soundboard. So, yes, I was able to do it, with a few extra minutes. However, I figured there must be tricks and tips to working with very long plain wire, especially in under-strung sections.

Here's the challenge: The next time you have to do this, take a bunch of photos and show us your methods for making this job easier.
It would make a great Practical Tech article for the Journal!

thanks, and Happy Holidays

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