A tuning wrench (also called a tuning lever or tuning hammer) is a specialized socket wrench used to tune string instruments, such as the piano, harp, and hammer dulcimer, that have strings wrapped around tuning pins. Other string instruments do not require a tuning wrench because their tuning pins or pegs come with handles (as with the violin), or geared tuning machines (as with the guitar or banjo).
T-shaped tuning wrenchTraditional piano tuning leversPost-Medieval tuning hammer
Tuning wrench sockets may be triangular-shaped or eight-pointed star-shaped, and are found in two basic sizes: a large size for pianos, and a smaller size for most other instruments. For pianos, pins are typically square with a slight taper. There are three standard sizes known as No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, for pins up to 6.5mm, for pins 6.5mm to 7.25mm, and for pins larger than 7.25mm. No. 2 is the most common. Wrenches are supplied with an eight-point star.[1] Some early keyboard instruments have oblong-shaped tuning pins.
Impact piano tuning levers differ from traditional levers in that they are fitted with a weight at the end of the handle. The tuner flicks the lever with his or her wrist, causing the weight to do the actual work of moving the tuning pin. Tuning wrench sockets are often attached snugly to the handle with fine-gauge machine-screw threads, to provide a very firm, immobile joint; this is in contrast to the square snap-on joints found in sockets used for machinery.
Unlike most socket wrenches, tuning wrenches usually have a comfortable wood or nylon handle. They are found in two basic shapes: L-shaped and T-shaped.[2] L-shaped handles for pianos are available in several angles that are not quite right angles, provide greater leverage than T-shaped handles, and the angle provides clearance for the handle over adjacent pins, allowing a very short and stiff socket to be used. This enables a better feel and control of the tiny movements of the tuning pin, within the pin-block. T-shaped handles are used for many lower-tension instruments such as the harpsichord, harp, and dulcimer. T-shaped handles help keep torque parallel to the shaft of the tuning pin, and thus avoid bending the pin and widening the wooden hole that holds the tuning pin.
See alsoedit
Drum key, a similar tool used for tuning drums and adjusting drum hardware
Referencesedit
^"Shape Of Piano Tuning Pins". PeteSummers.com. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
^"David Boyce Piano Services". www.davidboyce.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tuning wrench.
from the Grosse Pointe Public Library
Tuning a Bowed Psaltery from A Psimple Psaltery
April 11, 2024
tuning, wrench, tuning, wrench, also, called, tuning, lever, tuning, hammer, specialized, socket, wrench, used, tune, string, instruments, such, piano, harp, hammer, dulcimer, that, have, strings, wrapped, around, tuning, pins, other, string, instruments, requ. A tuning wrench also called a tuning lever or tuning hammer is a specialized socket wrench used to tune string instruments such as the piano harp and hammer dulcimer that have strings wrapped around tuning pins Other string instruments do not require a tuning wrench because their tuning pins or pegs come with handles as with the violin or geared tuning machines as with the guitar or banjo T shaped tuning wrenchTraditional piano tuning leversPost Medieval tuning hammerTuning wrench sockets may be triangular shaped or eight pointed star shaped and are found in two basic sizes a large size for pianos and a smaller size for most other instruments For pianos pins are typically square with a slight taper There are three standard sizes known as No 1 No 2 and No 3 for pins up to 6 5mm for pins 6 5mm to 7 25mm and for pins larger than 7 25mm No 2 is the most common Wrenches are supplied with an eight point star 1 Some early keyboard instruments have oblong shaped tuning pins Impact piano tuning levers differ from traditional levers in that they are fitted with a weight at the end of the handle The tuner flicks the lever with his or her wrist causing the weight to do the actual work of moving the tuning pin Tuning wrench sockets are often attached snugly to the handle with fine gauge machine screw threads to provide a very firm immobile joint this is in contrast to the square snap on joints found in sockets used for machinery Unlike most socket wrenches tuning wrenches usually have a comfortable wood or nylon handle They are found in two basic shapes L shaped and T shaped 2 L shaped handles for pianos are available in several angles that are not quite right angles provide greater leverage than T shaped handles and the angle provides clearance for the handle over adjacent pins allowing a very short and stiff socket to be used This enables a better feel and control of the tiny movements of the tuning pin within the pin block T shaped handles are used for many lower tension instruments such as the harpsichord harp and dulcimer T shaped handles help keep torque parallel to the shaft of the tuning pin and thus avoid bending the pin and widening the wooden hole that holds the tuning pin See also editDrum key a similar tool used for tuning drums and adjusting drum hardwareReferences edit Shape Of Piano Tuning Pins PeteSummers com Retrieved 14 March 2022 David Boyce Piano Services www davidboyce co uk Retrieved 14 March 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tuning wrench Picture of a piano wrench from the Grosse Pointe Public Library Tuning a Bowed Psaltery from A Psimple Psaltery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tuning wrench amp oldid 1182180493, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
