[FAQ's]

This is a procedure that is deemed as controversial. What happens is, a piano's pin block the piece of wood into which the tuning pins are driven that the tuner adjusts becomes so loose that a piano can't be tuned. In a good many cases, the recommended procedure would be to rebuild the piano. This necessitates in most cases, restringing, and repining with larger pins. However, this is a lengthy and expensive process. In some cases, the piano just isn't worth restoring, or rebuilding. This is a decision that must be worked out between the technician, and the piano owner. In some cases, a piano may be deemed not to be worth rebuilding, but due to sentimental reasons, the customer requires that this task be done. But, where this isn't the case, a "quick fix" is the use of a substance called "Pin tightener" In the case where the pin block has become too loose to support a tuning, the wood has dried out around the pin. So, the technician may elect to add a solution of glycerine, and water. This solution causes the pin block to attract moisture. the hoped for result, a tuneable instrument. The down side of this procedure is, that the pin block, or wrest plank can't be used for repining. But, in some cases, it may add a few more years to the life of an old instrument.

Robin Foster MABPT
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