stretching wire

[AlliedPianoCraft]

Terry Farrell writes;
All I was saying that over the life of the piano, one does 
slowly add more wire around the pin. I think that I have done one pitch 
lowering in ten years here in Florida, while I have done thousands of pitch 
raises. Pitch raise makes more wire wind around the pin (unless, of course, 
the pin is spinning backwards when I'm not looking). 

That is also my thinking. 

If the wire is not stretching somewhat, why is it we always need to pull the pitch up and rarely down? If changing temperature and humidity is the only cause for a piano to go out of tune, then we should be dropping pitch as much as raising it.  I'm not saying your information is incorrect, I just want to know why we just keep pulling it up. Just how much can everything compress?

Al Guecia


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Farrell 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 12:27 PM
  Subject: Re: stretching wire


  Sure, why not. I have little doubt you are correct with the "piano wire does 
  not stretch" thing. I read your explanation regarding engineers, etc. I'm a 
  believer (now). All I was saying that over the life of the piano, one does 
  slowly add more wire around the pin. I think that I have done one pitch 
  lowering in ten years here in Florida, while I have done thousands of pitch 
  raises. Pitch raise makes more wire wind around the pin (unless, of course, 
  the pin is spinning backwards when I'm not looking). Wood crushing is likely 
  the culprit.

  I'm just glad there are people out there smarter than I.

  Terry Farrell

  ----- Original Message -----
  >> It does - albeit slowly.
  >>
  >> Terry Farrell
  >
  > As the pin migrates forward in the block, the block crushes at the flange, 
  > and the pins migrate in the bridge from side bearing? Wood crush couldn't 
  > be a factor worth considering then?
  > Ron N
  > 


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