Balance pins etc.

[markaj]

Hi there,
I need to replace the balance pins on my piano as they are veeery rusty & have lost a lot of plating. The problem is that they are .137" dia, which seems unavailable.
Can I drill out the holes in the keys & keyframe to suit standard .145" (4mm?) pins, or is it easier to make up some new pins out of 3.5mm stainless steel rod? (easy). If I use the bigger pins, presumably I need to use thinner bushing cloth. The slots are about .187", so the cloth needs to be about .021" thick min. - is this an available size?
The same applies to the bat pins. The existing ones are .126" wide, and replacements are .137", but these obviously would be a problem to fabricate. Perhaps a good cleanup with emery & treating with a proprietry 'gun blue' or similar to keep the rust at bay?
Any suggestions..........?

[Gill the Piano]

I've always used chrome cleaner on 'em...does the trick usually.

[vernon]

As you claim " it's easy," replace with s/steel rod.
Most likely the bushings will be worn enough to need no subsequent easing as the old dodgy balance pins have been rasping away all this time.
For goodness sake don't re-bush unless you have to.

[markaj]

Hmm, not as easy as I thought - 3.5mm stainless is not a stock size, but I could use silver steel. So back to the possibility of drilling out the key levers & using 4mm pins, - Is this alrightish, or asking for trouble?
Incidentally the original bushes are shot & falling out (its 70 yrs old), so it will need rebushing.

[Brumtuner]

Phone Heckscher's.

They'll have everything you need.