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I like your tuning pin setup.

Wish we could retrofit that to a piano.

I got the idea from top tuners on an old grand I saw. The tuning is very stable.

It's a rough remake of the Mason & Hamlin screwstringer.

Kind of like the Mason Hamlin but more the top tuner from J. Brinsmead. If tecflip installed two nuts on both sides of the plate the stem runs through, then the wire would not twist when tuning. Would need to make a tool to turn the outside nut….


Top tuner

That was what I tried to re-create. I just couldn't find any bolts that were hollow all of the way through. Any clue how much they would be if I ordered them online?

Well, you’re almost there now. What you need to do is fit double nuts on both sides with a flat washer against both sides of the steel plate, so the nut will turn. Then drill out the plate slightly so the threads of the stem do not contact the plate.

What you want is the stem to travel because the nuts are drawing it one way or the other. By having the threads of the stem contact the plate the stem will turn causing the wire to twist.

Hollow rods that have exterior threads? Pull out your wallet I would think. You might get lucky with one of these places. They could have a smooth hollow rod that you can thread if you have a die set…

some links

http://makezine.com/pub/tool/McMaster_Carr_Online_Catalog


http://www.fostermation.com/rods_shafts.htm?gclid=CPjf6vmdyLQCFQ_hQgodJ3IAMA


Hollow rod images

The rest of my search results are

here

best of luck

Well I understand why tuning pins are used ! so simple and easy !

A customer of mine is making similar test instrument, mostly to find correlation between different soundboard materials and setup,

The holding of the tone is almost secondary for him, the hammers style and materials, the soundboard, reaction to downbearing, is more what he is looking for, on a very basic setup (he was lucky I provide him an octave of straight keys)

This is getting real expensive, fast. I think i may just get some 'ol piano and pick out the goodies. Seems to be the cheapest.

Lots of them around for spare parts and experiments.

Best of luck,

Thanks!

It would probably be easier to find steel or brass tube stock of the appropriate size. Get a tap and die set to run the threads, and just double nut one end to use as a head.

That's not a bad idea. But would the threads be as strong as regular bolt threads(Unless that is how bolts are made)?

Technically, probably not. But not by enough to be a problem. Maybe make one and test it before going to the tedious work of doing them all.

Sounds like a plan. I will have to try that!