I: About preparations
Tools needed for preparations
1. A ruler, both a 30cm and a shorter one, is useful. Or a ruler in inches.
＝ Used to determine the position
2. A flat-blade screwdriver or an alternative spatula made of wood or plastic. For example, a wooden
knife, an ice-cream stick or a child's toy knife. Anything softer than copper, especially as the windings of the bass strings are made of copper.
＝ such as bamboo, wood or plastic.
In any case, the size of the object used should be such that its tip is wider than the distance between the strings and thinner than the distance between the strings.
= Used for inserting bolts or felts, etc. between the strings. In particular, as the bass windings are made of copper, it is advisable to use a material softer than copper (brass for metal, wood, plastic, etc.).
3. Tweezers (approx. 20cm long)
= for handling small objects and used to hold a preparation object between the lower strings at the point where the strings cross.
4. Thin cardboard (about 5 cm wide and 30 cm long or less)
＝ Used to remove objects that have fallen onto the soundboard. The cardboard is slipped under the strings and the edge of the paper is used to bring the fallen object to the edge of the bass string, where it can be easily removed.
5. Scissors, cutter knife
＝Used to cut rubber, plastic, cloth, wood, etc. to the required size.
6. Gloves
＝If necessary, use gloves to avoid touching the strings with bare hands. Avoid using gloves made of materials that release fibers.
Materials for preparations
*Metals: bolts, screws, washers combined with them, nuts, coins, clips, safety pins, etc.
*Wood: various types of wood, bamboo, washcloths, etc.
*Paper
*Cloth: Felt is useful (fine fibres do not fray, strong. It comes in several thicknesses.)
Ribbons etc.
=Felt can be used when J.Cage says "weather stripping".
*Rubber: rubber plates (of various thicknesses), erasers, pencil erasers, kneaded erasers,
tuning rubber wedges, rubber tubes, etc.
*Plastics - plastic plates, plastic washers, bread bag clamps, tubes, etc.
*Other
Precautions
1. Wash and dry your hands before touching the inside of the piano.
2. Do not use any preparation material that will leave scraps inside the instrument.
3. Always press the damper pedal to raise the dampers when preparation work is carried out.
This prevents damage to the damper felts.
If it is not possible to press the damper pedal and do the preparation work at the same time, you can put a rubber wedge behind the pedal. → See video No.55 "How to hold the pedal down".
4. Do not force anything between the strings. (Don't use anything too big)
5. The preparation should be applied to the part of the string that rests on the soundboard.
Do not preparation the hammer or the action. If the article of preparation is dropped on the soundboard, it should be removed with a piece of cardboard to avoid damaging the soundboard.
→ See video No.58 "How to remove the articles that has been dropped on the sound board".
6. Do not insert pointed objects, such as screws or wedges, too deeply.
7. When metal preparations are indicated for the bass windings, care should be taken with the material. It is advisable to avoid materials that are too hard.
8. Do not insert hard, non-resilient materials close to the ends of the string. They should be inserted at least 3 cm away from the ends of the string.
9. When inserting bolts, use a flathead screwdriver or similar tool and do not insert or remove them roughly. In the highest registers, where the elasticity of the string is poor, it is better to use a screw than a bolt.
10. If the damper no longer sits perfectly on the string when its string had prepared, the position and size of the preparation material must be reviewed. It is either too big or too close to the damper.