Pianotech

If the broken string doesn't have enough wire left to make the knot, and you want to tie into the speaking length, just unwrap some of the copper to get more to tie onto.  Just don't take off too much so the copper gets loose.  There has to be some of the copper over the swedged end or it might unravel.  You can make all the loops you need out of the piano, then install it.

As far as making the loop in the piano, that would apply if you don't want to make the knot in the speaking length.  Then you'll have to have enough wire through the agraffe to make a loop in the piano near the tuning pin.  That's a trick, and I don't have that skill, which might be what you're getting at. 

I just posted the following in my chapter forum as a monthly technical recap. Hopefully it works even if you weren't there

Tools required for making splice:

• Micrometer
• Xuron Hard Wire & Memory Wire Cutter #2193F#2193F
• 5WR Vise Grip Locking Pliers #902L3
• Knipex 160mm Round Nose Pliers #22
• Safety Glasses

With the jaws of your vise grip facing up, label the left side 1, and the right side 2 as shown in the picture

With the jaws facing up, flip the vise grip horizontally and label the left side 1, and the right side 2 as shown in the photo. (Take careful note of the numbers in the photos)

Measure the remaining wire to determine the correct size of the splice wire and dummy wire.  (Here, 0.043" indicates 19 gauge wire)

Cut a small piece of dummy wire that is the same gauge as the splice wire and the original wire.  This will be used as a disposable tool to aid in making tight coils, and along with the numbers on the vise grips, this will help with the correct orientation of the loops.

Hold the splice wire firmly in the jaws of the vise grip .  (The amount of wire held in the jaws will become the length of the wire extending from the knot.)  

Lay the piece of dummy wire on the vise grip against the splice wire on the side labeled "1"

Hold the dummy wire against the vise grip tightly with your thumb, and wind the splice wire around the dummy wire about 270 degrees.

Tuck the tail of the loop underneath the long section of splice wire using round nose pliers.  This step will aid in assembly later.

Make sure the piano wire is threaded through the agraffe or under the bearing point before continuing.

Thread the splice wire with the loop onto the remaining section of piano wire.

Take the remaining section of piano wire in your vise grip, and lay the dummy wire against the piano wire on the side labeled 2

Holding the dummy wire against the vise grip tightly with your thumb, loop the piano wire around the dummy wire about 270 degrees

Tuck the tail of the loop under the long section of wire.

Thread the two wires together.

Pull taut.

Depending on how tightly the knot came together before adding tension from the tuning pin, cut the wire a little on the short side before making the tuning pin coil.  

I just posted the following in my chapter forum as a monthly technical recap. Hopefully it works even if you weren't there

Tools required for making splice:

• Micrometer
• Xuron Hard Wire & Memory Wire Cutter #2193F#2193F
• 5WR Vise Grip Locking Pliers #902L3
• Knipex 160mm Round Nose Pliers #22
• Safety Glasses

With the jaws of your vise grip facing up, label the left side 1, and the right side 2 as shown in the picture

With the jaws facing up, flip the vise grip horizontally and label the left side 1, and the right side 2 as shown in the photo. (Take careful note of the numbers in the photos)

Measure the remaining wire to determine the correct size of the splice wire and dummy wire.  (Here, 0.043" indicates 19 gauge wire)

Cut a small piece of dummy wire that is the same gauge as the splice wire and the original wire.  This will be used as a disposable tool to aid in making tight coils, and along with the numbers on the vise grips, this will help with the correct orientation of the loops.

Hold the splice wire firmly in the jaws of the vise grip .  (The amount of wire held in the jaws will become the length of the wire extending from the knot.)  

Lay the piece of dummy wire on the vise grip against the splice wire on the side labeled "1"

Hold the dummy wire against the vise grip tightly with your thumb, and wind the splice wire around the dummy wire about 270 degrees.

Tuck the tail of the loop underneath the long section of splice wire using round nose pliers.  This step will aid in assembly later.

Make sure the piano wire is threaded through the agraffe or under the bearing point before continuing.

Thread the splice wire with the loop onto the remaining section of piano wire.

Take the remaining section of piano wire in your vise grip, and lay the dummy wire against the piano wire on the side labeled 2

Holding the dummy wire against the vise grip tightly with your thumb, loop the piano wire around the dummy wire about 270 degrees

Tuck the tail of the loop under the long section of wire.

Thread the two wires together.

Pull taut.

Depending on how tightly the knot came together before adding tension from the tuning pin, cut the wire a little on the short side before making the tuning pin coil.  

Geoff,

I read your original post again and realized that the tutorial I posted was not what you were asking for.

I think you might be thinking of the January 2019 issue of the Piano Technician's Journal.

Also, Maggie Jusiel has an excellent video on YouTube about this topic called "Three Piano Wire Knots"

Original Message:
Sent: 3/14/2025 9:48:00 AM
From: Daniel DeBiasio
Subject: RE: String splicing question

Geoff,

I read your original post again and realized that the tutorial I posted was not what you were asking for.

I think you might be thinking of the January 2019 issue of the Piano Technician's Journal.

Also, Maggie Jusiel has an excellent video on YouTube about this topic called "Three Piano Wire Knots"

------------------------------
Daniel DeBiasio
Technical Education & Support
ddebiasio@steinway.com
718-267-3229
Steinway & Sons
------------------------------

Geoff,

I read your original post again and realized that the tutorial I posted was not what you were asking for.

I think you might be thinking of the January 2019 issue of the Piano Technician's Journal.

Also, Maggie Jusiel has an excellent video on YouTube about this topic called "Three Piano Wire Knots"

Interesting knot. If I had a little more wire to work with it might have worked. I think both videos feature the same voice. He's just speaking French in one and English, with a French accent in the other. Thanks. 

Geoff,

I read your original post again and realized that the tutorial I posted was not what you were asking for.

I think you might be thinking of the January 2019 issue of the Piano Technician's Journal.

Also, Maggie Jusiel has an excellent video on YouTube about this topic called "Three Piano Wire Knots"

Geoff,

I read your original post again and realized that the tutorial I posted was not what you were asking for.

I think you might be thinking of the January 2019 issue of the Piano Technician's Journal.

Also, Maggie Jusiel has an excellent video on YouTube about this topic called "Three Piano Wire Knots"

Daniel --

When I first saw your original post I just glanced at it as a description of how I already splice wires. But after reading Ron Koval's response I looked at it more closely. I agree, the use of the dummy wire for making the loop is a great idea that I had never heard of before. My only addition to the instructions you have provided would be to select the next thicker gauge wire for the splice wire. I was taught this as a way to reduce the possibility of the splice wire stretching and causing some minor instability after bringing the wire back up to tension. You are correct that your response did not address the question I had posted but it was, nevertheless, a valuable addition on the subject of wire splicing. Thanks --

Geoff,

I read your original post again and realized that the tutorial I posted was not what you were asking for.

I think you might be thinking of the January 2019 issue of the Piano Technician's Journal.

Also, Maggie Jusiel has an excellent video on YouTube about this topic called "Three Piano Wire Knots"

Hi Geoff et al! 

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. Glad you found my video useful! Yes, the hybrid knot is in there, but I just fell in love with Allan Sutton's knot. I expect I'll be using that in the future! I was going to share that I have done a traditional knot with a small amount of wire left near a winding by making the loop on the new piece of wire large enough to pass over the coil. This can work quite well when the coil isn't too think. I have pictures, but only of the end results. I expected I'd be trying this eventually on a thick coil, but I'm thinking Allan's knot would be better because it would avoid the extra large loop. 

Daniel - Those are fantastic photos! 

Allan - When I started playing your video, Tim (hubby) was in the room and started translating for me automatically. Haha! ;-) 

Maggie

Daniel --

When I first saw your original post I just glanced at it as a description of how I already splice wires. But after reading Ron Koval's response I looked at it more closely. I agree, the use of the dummy wire for making the loop is a great idea that I had never heard of before. My only addition to the instructions you have provided would be to select the next thicker gauge wire for the splice wire. I was taught this as a way to reduce the possibility of the splice wire stretching and causing some minor instability after bringing the wire back up to tension. You are correct that your response did not address the question I had posted but it was, nevertheless, a valuable addition on the subject of wire splicing. Thanks --

Hi Geoff et al! 

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. Glad you found my video useful! Yes, the hybrid knot is in there, but I just fell in love with Allan Sutton's knot. I expect I'll be using that in the future! I was going to share that I have done a traditional knot with a small amount of wire left near a winding by making the loop on the new piece of wire large enough to pass over the coil. This can work quite well when the coil isn't too think. I have pictures, but only of the end results. I expected I'd be trying this eventually on a thick coil, but I'm thinking Allan's knot would be better because it would avoid the extra large loop. 

Daniel - Those are fantastic photos! 

Allan - When I started playing your video, Tim (hubby) was in the room and started translating for me automatically. Haha! ;-) 

Maggie

Daniel --

When I first saw your original post I just glanced at it as a description of how I already splice wires. But after reading Ron Koval's response I looked at it more closely. I agree, the use of the dummy wire for making the loop is a great idea that I had never heard of before. My only addition to the instructions you have provided would be to select the next thicker gauge wire for the splice wire. I was taught this as a way to reduce the possibility of the splice wire stretching and causing some minor instability after bringing the wire back up to tension. You are correct that your response did not address the question I had posted but it was, nevertheless, a valuable addition on the subject of wire splicing. Thanks --

Geoff,

I read your original post again and realized that the tutorial I posted was not what you were asking for.

I think you might be thinking of the January 2019 issue of the Piano Technician's Journal.

Also, Maggie Jusiel has an excellent video on YouTube about this topic called "Three Piano Wire Knots"

Allan - Hope I'm not hijacking Geoff's thread. He may be interested in these pictures. One is a few knots where I made the loop on the new string segment large enough to go over the winding. You can tell which one I didn't bend inward far enough because it caught the winding. Boy was I annoyed with myself for that one. The other picture is of your knot and one of mine, which I would have called a standard knot. They are different in that my tails are against each other on the inside while yours are going through the outer part of the loops. I'm definitely going to be trying that one. I already like it better. ;-) 

Tim sez: Le plaisir sera le notre. Peut être à Des Moines bien que nous avons toujours voulu venir au Canada.

Hi Geoff et al! 

Sorry I didn't see this sooner. Glad you found my video useful! Yes, the hybrid knot is in there, but I just fell in love with Allan Sutton's knot. I expect I'll be using that in the future! I was going to share that I have done a traditional knot with a small amount of wire left near a winding by making the loop on the new piece of wire large enough to pass over the coil. This can work quite well when the coil isn't too think. I have pictures, but only of the end results. I expected I'd be trying this eventually on a thick coil, but I'm thinking Allan's knot would be better because it would avoid the extra large loop. 

Daniel - Those are fantastic photos! 

Allan - When I started playing your video, Tim (hubby) was in the room and started translating for me automatically. Haha! ;-) 

Maggie

Daniel --

When I first saw your original post I just glanced at it as a description of how I already splice wires. But after reading Ron Koval's response I looked at it more closely. I agree, the use of the dummy wire for making the loop is a great idea that I had never heard of before. My only addition to the instructions you have provided would be to select the next thicker gauge wire for the splice wire. I was taught this as a way to reduce the possibility of the splice wire stretching and causing some minor instability after bringing the wire back up to tension. You are correct that your response did not address the question I had posted but it was, nevertheless, a valuable addition on the subject of wire splicing. Thanks --

Geoff,

I read your original post again and realized that the tutorial I posted was not what you were asking for.

I think you might be thinking of the January 2019 issue of the Piano Technician's Journal.

Also, Maggie Jusiel has an excellent video on YouTube about this topic called "Three Piano Wire Knots"