The easiest way to voice organ pipes is to build a voicing table.
This is really no more than a variable speed blower which will supply
dynamic wind pressure (e.g., while the largest pipe is speaking) equal
to or greater than that for which the rank is designed.

To use the table, plug a single unstoppered pipe into the table and
raise the blower speed until the pressure equals the design pressure.
You can then hack away at the pipe until it sounds right.  An alterna-
tive design is to use a fixed speed blower and a waste gate.  Plug the
pipe in and open the waste gate until the pressure is at design level.

It's a good idea to anchor the pipe to the table so that the lighter
ones don't get projected across the voicing room when you turn the
blower on.  A wife will do for this job if the number of pipes to be
voiced is small.  Otherwise build a clamp for the pipe foot.

Some of the pipes may need to be touched up after installation in
the organ.  Also wear ear muffs of some sort; gun shops sell good
inexpensive ones.


Bill Finch

 [ Gunshots and loud tones are quite different sounds.  When I play the
 [ calliope I wear ear protectors designed for use around jet aircraft.
 [ The 'ear muffs' give 29 decibels attenuation and comply with specifi-
 [ cation ANSI 12.6-l984.  The cost is about $20 for the Swiss-made
 [ Howard Leight "Thunder 29" model.  See the technical discussions at
 [ http://www.srs.gov/general/sci-tech/fulltext/ms9900355/ms9900355.html
 [ and http://users.aol.com/standards4/s12_stds.html#S12_6
 [ -- Robbie