Hello all,

I have just received an 1840's French Pleyel piano which has screw-in
legs.

the problem is that the seller denied any problems with the piano, but
two of the three legs have stripped screws!

the legs have male screws are about two inches in diameter, and they
fit into a corresponding female under the piano.

I have other pianos like this and they work fine as long as the screw
is tight, but a loose screw puts stress on the joint, and I am afraid
the legs will crack off.

what kind of tool needs to be used to make new screws? what is it
called?

what kind of workshop would be used to making such a thing?

any help will be appreciated.

On Sep 10, 7:13 pm, alfred wrote:
Hello all,

I have just received an 1840's French Pleyel piano which has screw-in
legs.

the problem is that the seller denied any problems with the piano, but
two of the three legs have stripped screws!

the legs have male screws are about two inches in diameter, and they
fit into a corresponding female under the piano.

I have other pianos like this and they work fine as long as the screw
is tight, but a loose screw puts stress on the joint, and I am afraid
the legs will crack off.

what kind of tool needs to be used to make new screws? what is it
called?

what kind of workshop would be used to making such a thing?

any help will be appreciated.

1840s, they might have been hand cut. Try a knife and a file.
Lay out the thread by spiraling tape around the leg at the
desired pitch. Really not so much work considering you're
only threading two legs.

alfred wrote:
Hello all,

I have just received an 1840's French Pleyel piano which has screw-in
legs.

the problem is that the seller denied any problems with the piano, but
two of the three legs have stripped screws!

the legs have male screws are about two inches in diameter, and they
fit into a corresponding female under the piano.

I have other pianos like this and they work fine as long as the screw
is tight, but a loose screw puts stress on the joint, and I am afraid
the legs will crack off.

what kind of tool needs to be used to make new screws? what is it
called?

what kind of workshop would be used to making such a thing?

any help will be appreciated.


My guess is that the threads were "chased" using a lathe. See Fred
Holder's article on thread chasing at:

http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/p.../MS-THRDCH.pdf

Fred is a regular contributor of the "rec.crafts.woodturning" news group.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA