Choosing the Right Piano Tuning Wrench Socket Size
Whether you are looking to tune your piano or just need a new wrench socket, here are some tips to help you find the right one. A great post!
The earliest tuning tools were similar to a “T” hammer. They were used for driving the tuning pin into the pinblock, but some of them had additional functions, such as braiding strings. During the 19th century, they were mainly used for string replacement.
During the second half of the 19th century, the makers of piano tools in England, such as Richard Reynolds, were particularly prolific. Some of their tools were in the form of a “T”. Others had a hook on the top of the handle, like a baseball bat.
The first patent for a tuning hammer was issued by Richard Reynolds in 1885. It features a square-hole tip, which is larger than the piano tuning pin. The tip is made of copper and zinc, and has an adjustable radial movement.
In the early 1890s, a French piano tuner named Claude Montal published a book, which included an illustration of an early tuning hammer. The illustration was published in the book Keynotes: Two Centuries of Piano Design, which was organized by Laurence Libin.
Standard tuning pins for pianos in the U.S.
Several methods are used to produce standard tuning pins for pianos. The best method depends on the number of pins that are to be produced.
Standard tuning pins typically have a diameter of 0.286″-7.16″ (0.726-0.291″) and a thread pitch of approximately 6/0″. This pitch allows use of standard UNC 5/16-18 hex nuts to mount the pin.
The diameter of the pin is dependent on the torque required to tune the piano. Piano tuners generally prefer a torque of 75 to 125 inch-lb. However, this value can be increased or decreased before or after strings are installed.
A tuning pin with adjustable torque is made of two main parts: a core and a coaxial collar. This coaxial collar is inserted into a mounting hole in a panel. This configuration allows the tuning pin to be mounted directly onto the string plate of a piano.
The core is made of a plain portion and a threaded upper portion. The core is made of steel, but does not need to be as hard as a conventional piano collar.
Choosing a tuning tip
Choosing a piano tuning tip socket size is a very important step for retuning your piano. You want to choose a socket that is properly seated and will provide enough clearance so that the tuning pin has the ability to twist smoothly. An improperly seated socket can break or mar the tuning pin.
Generally, there are three common tip sizes. The #1 tip is for tuning pins with very small diameters, and the #3 tip is for larger pins. These tips are available in a variety of lengths, including shorter tips with more shallow head angles and longer tips with more flex. Some tuners claim that shorter tips offer more control, while others claim that longer tips are easier to use.
The most common size of tuning tip is the #2. This tip fits the tuning pins on most pianos. It is also easier to use than the #1 tip. This tip is also used for replacing damaged tuning pins. The tip is made of hardened tool steel and is 6-1/2 inches long. Visit This Site!