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Weber Piano Action Rebuild – New Hammers!

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on June 29, 2017 by JimSeptember 12, 2025
photo of New hammers!

We got back from the Red Power Roundup and it was time to catch up on the Weber project. Bernard texted me (with pictures!) that the hammers had arrived from Renner, and I was eager to see them. I went to his shop a few days later.

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Posted in Projects | Tagged action center, action rebuild, animal hide glue, back rail cloth, Bernerd, blanco, blanco texas, DIY, felt bushing, hammer rest, hammers and shanks, hill country, how to, key end felt, key pins, keyframe, Mollberg, music, piano, punchings, restoration, Texas, texas hill country, weber, weber grand piano, windex, wippens, woodworking

Buying A Great Solar Inverter Charge Controller | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on June 26, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
photo of The inverter box

Choosing the right solar inverter charge controller can make or break an off-grid system. This real-world project walks through sourcing a hybrid inverter, evaluating features, and navigating the challenges of overseas ordering and delivery.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged battery, build, charge, China, Chinese, controller, deep cycle, DIY, hill country, homesteading, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, panel, rainwater, renogy, solar, Sun Gold Power, Texas, texas hill country

Weber Piano Action Rebuild – On to the Wippens!

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on May 21, 2017 by JimSeptember 12, 2025
diagram of a grand piano action

Another trip to Bernard’s piano shop and another list of tasks. I installed most of the rocker capstans (#2 in the diagram above) with the new square-drive screws at home, and used a little wax softened with mineral spirits to avoid … Continue reading →

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Posted in Projects | Tagged action center, action rebuild, animal hide glue, back rail cloth, Bernerd, blanco, blanco texas, DIY, felt bushing, hammer rest, hammers and shanks, hill country, how to, key end felt, key pins, keyframe, Mollberg, music, piano, punchings, restoration, Texas, texas hill country, weber, weber grand piano, windex, wippens, woodworking

Weber Piano Action Rebuild – Keyframe with Refurbished Keys

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on April 28, 2017 by JimSeptember 12, 2025
photo of Removing the bushing felt

I’ve been making progress on the Weber Project, but with a trip to New Mexico and various Spring activities, the pace has lagged. We’re back on track though. I mentioned in the last post that more work was needed on the bushings — they were too tight for the keys to move freely in the keyframe.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged action rebuild, animal hide glue, back rail cloth, Bernerd, blanco, blanco texas, DIY, felt bushing, hill country, how to, key pins, keyframe, Mollberg, music, piano, punchings, restoration, Texas, texas hill country, weber, weber grand piano, windex, wippens, woodworking

How to Install Solar Panels on a Shed | Solar Powered Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on April 11, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
how to install solar panels on a shed

Learn how to install solar panels on a shed for a small off-grid system, including mounting methods, wiring in series, and real-world voltage performance.

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Posted in Projects | Tagged build, charge, controller, deep cycle, DIY, hill country, homesteading, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, panel, rainwater, renogy, solar, Texas, texas hill country

Solar Panel Tilt and Mounting | Solar Power Rainwater Project

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on March 23, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
Planning solar panel tilt and mounting on the Spring Garden Shed

Learn how to optimize solar panel tilt and mounting for real-world performance. This off-grid rainwater project explores panel angle, seasonal adjustments, and practical installation decisions to improve solar output efficiently.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged amateur, build, charge, charge controller, compass, controller, deep cycle, DIY, equipment, framing square, Grid-assist, grid-tie, ham radio, how to, howto, inclinometer, Interstate, inverter, iphone, kill-a-watt, kilowatt, kilowatt-hours, kWh, marine, mppt, off-grid, panel, pwm, rainwater, renogy, solar, speed square, storage, teardrop, trailer, wb0mmc

Solar Powered Rainwater Project – Grid Tie vs Off Grid Solar

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on March 22, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
48V split-phase pure sine wave solar inverter charger with MPPT controller for off-grid solar system

Learn how solar power system sizing drives real-world decisions about charge controllers, inverters, and grid tie vs off grid solar design. A practical guide to building a reliable, resilient solar system.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged amateur, build, charge, controller, deep cycle, DIY, equipment, Grid-assist, grid-tie, ham radio, how to, howto, Interstate, inverter, kill-a-watt, kilowatt, kilowatt-hours, kWh, marine, maximum power point transfer, mppt, off-grid, panel, pulse width modulation, pwm, rainwater, renogy, solar, storage, Sun Gold Power, teardrop, trailer, wb0mmc

How to Size a Solar Power System (Solar Power System Sizing Guide)

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on March 21, 2017 by JimApril 20, 2026
photo of Well House and Garden Shed

Learn how to solar power system sizing with this step-by-step guide — including panel wattage, battery capacity, and real-world design factors.

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged ampere-hours, battery bank capacity, battery storage, DIY solar, inverter, kilowatt-hours, off-grid, rainwater, solar, solar panel wattage

Weber Piano Project – Keyframe Cleanup

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on March 5, 2017 by JimSeptember 12, 2025

With key bushings installed, it was back to the piano shop. In order to test the work, we would need to try a few keys in the keyframe and see they fit. First though, a little cleanup was in order. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged action rebuild, animal hide glue, back rail cloth, Bernerd, blanco, blanco texas, DIY, felt bushing, flitz polish, hill country, how to, key pins, keyframe, Mollberg, music, piano, piano punching lifter, punchings, restoration, scotchblue, Texas, texas hill country, weber, weber grand piano, windex, wippens, woodworking

Weber Piano Project – New Bushings!

Roy Creek Ranch Posted on March 5, 2017 by JimSeptember 12, 2025

So far, we’ve removed the action from the piano, disassembled, and cleaned it. There’s a surprising amount of effort involved in just those steps, and it was great to finally make progress in the rebuild. Make no mistake, the disassembly and … Continue reading →

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Posted in Projects, Ranch Life | Tagged action rebuild, animal hide glue, balance rail, Bernerd, blanco, blanco texas, brush, build, bushing felt, DIY, felt bushing, front rail, hill country, how to, Mollberg, music, pallet knife, piano, piano action, razor blade, restoration, Texas, texas hill country, watercolor, weber, weber grand piano, whiting, woodworking

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