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Joined: Apr 2010
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Regulate either dowel jack escapement buttons or eyelet style on grand pianos.
Can also be used to adjust lost motion on vertical piano dowel capstans.

Photos here . . . (Select "Slide Show" for best visibility)

Schaff sells them.
If you don't have or can't get a Schaff account, PM me. Anyone can own one of these.


Keith Akins, RPT
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Nice looking tool.


"Imagine it in all its primatic colorings, its counterpart in our souls - our souls that are great pianos whose strings, of honey and of steel, the divisions of the rainbow set twanging, loosing on the air great novels of adventure!" - William Carlos Williams
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I thought so too, but it is less important to have one tool that works on two different pianos than to have separate tools that works the piano I am working on, no matter what. The straight rod for dowel buttons may not always work for the ones near the brackets. Bending it can help, but straight is better most of the time. So I just use a piece of stiff wire, bent at one end, which works both for let-off buttons and capstans. It will work for eyelet capstan screws, too, but not as well as other tools, which I have.


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It's a decent looking tool. I've always used just a pair of plyers to turn the reulating button, as well as the frog poker tool(with the action in place)


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I, like BDB, have different tools for different situations. Having 4 different tools, that are small and light... It will do the job faster than a universal tool.

But it is a nice looking tool, and one that I as a tool addict that has grown wiser, would buy.

Just don't need it right now.

But, if you are using pliers, get the tool sooner than later. wink







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Originally Posted by Gary Fowler
I've always used just a pair of plyers to turn the reulating button
crazy Isn't that kind of inconvenient?


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Originally Posted by Glue Collar Worker
Originally Posted by Gary Fowler
I've always used just a pair of plyers to turn the reulating button
crazy Isn't that kind of inconvenient?


And doesn't it mar the buttons?


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I'll wait for the power driven ratchetting Tim the Toolman one that will enevitably come out in a few years. In the meantime I use the home made ones I made that are specific for the job.


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Just wanted to update that the tool appars on page 40 of Schaff's new catalog. Item # 3149. Current price $39.50. If you don't have a Schaff account, you can PM me directly.



Keith Akins, RPT
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Keith, I'm confused. I just downloaded the catalog from
http://www.schaffpiano.com/catalog/full_catalog.pdf
and there is no such tool on p.40.
(I do see it in the webstore though, under new products.)

Are you referring to a paper copy of the catalog?


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New 2013 catalog arrived with an order on Sat. The tool is, indeed, on pg 40. I like multi-purpose tools. These make the job easier and my tech cases lighter. thumb

Last edited by bkw58; 06/10/13 09:59 AM. Reason: typo

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Originally Posted by Mark R.
Keith, I'm confused. I just downloaded the catalog from
http://www.schaffpiano.com/catalog/full_catalog.pdf
and there is no such tool on p.40.
(I do see it in the webstore though, under new products.)

Are you referring to a paper copy of the catalog?


Paper catalog just came out last week. Item number is correct on their website. The tool is featured on the front page of the online catalog.

Sorry for any confusion.


Keith Akins, RPT
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USA Distributor for Isaac Cadenza hammers and Profundo Bass Strings
Supporting Piano Owners D-I-Y piano tuning and repair
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Originally Posted by bkw58
New 2013 catalog arrived with an order on Sat. The tool is, indeed, on pg 40. I like multi-purpose tools. These make the job easier and my tech cases lighter. thumb


Multi tools can sometimes be an attempt at utility which winds up being useful for nothing -- if not well thought out or poorly executed. This tool actually works. The wrench pocket is accurately machined and the "tail" is cylindrical in form making it easier to slide into dowel regulating buttons. Other tools are pointed to some degree. And, it's made out of high quality (there is a "cheap" alloy) stainless steel.

My only suggestion is that you may want to bend the "tail" down about 30 degrees and use it oriented on its side or edge when regulating those kinds of buttons. Then there will be more accessibility into dowel holes that are turned to the side. I didn't make them that way because some may not care and it is another manufacturing step that also makes storage/shipping a bit more of a challenge.

I'd be glad for feedback from anyone who gets one of these tools. (I know somebody is, I'm doing my third batch for Schaff).


Keith Akins, RPT
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USA Distributor for Isaac Cadenza hammers and Profundo Bass Strings
Supporting Piano Owners D-I-Y piano tuning and repair
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Originally Posted by kpembrook
Regulate either dowel jack escapement buttons or eyelet style on grand pianos.
Can also be used to adjust lost motion on vertical piano dowel capstans.

Photos here . . . (Select "Slide Show" for best visibility)

Schaff sells them.
If you don't have or can't get a Schaff account, PM me. Anyone can own one of these.


the bend installed usually in capstan or letoff tools allows to turn more. I prefer a longer tool, and light ones, also , some can be used without looking.

the light tools are less prone to chip something if they fall on the keys, too., but the main advantage is that I feel them better) Yamaha regulating tools for instance

then, for the S&S eyelets there are not so much choices.


Last edited by Olek; 06/11/13 04:37 PM.

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Originally Posted by Olek

the bend installed usually in capstan or letoff tools allows to turn more. I prefer a longer tool, and light ones, also , some can be used without looking.

then, for the S&S eyelets there are not so much choices.



Yes, I mentioned above that bending the tail about 30 degrees might be desirable.

It can be used for dowel capstans (like on a U3) but was intended for dowel jack escapement buttons. The parallel sides of the tail fits into the hole better than other tools which are more-or-less conical.


Keith Akins, RPT
Piano Technologist
USA Distributor for Isaac Cadenza hammers and Profundo Bass Strings
Supporting Piano Owners D-I-Y piano tuning and repair
editor emeritus of Piano Technicians Journal

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