I recently decided that I was going to start tuning my own piano, mainly to save money as it is expensive to have someone else do it. But to be honest, I really don't know that much about it. I know how to play quite well, and thats about all I know about pianos. I've never even seen my own piano being tuned (I'm 18, been playing since I was 3.. my mom always took care of that, I just happened to never be home when the time came I guess). So I read an online tutorial, figured out what I needed, and how to do it, and I ordered the supplies. well today I went to tune it for the first time, and it was going fine, I had no problems at all. then about half way through, my tuning hammer totally stripped. And it actually started cracking in like 4 places. I think the problem is, it wasn't a great quality hammer. And I should have sent it back as soon as it came, it looked like it had been used and it was supposed to be new. But I was too excited I guess and figured "as long as it works".
Here is the tuning hammer I purchased

And here is a picture of the tuning pins just in case.. I have a Chickering spinet, model # 3815..

Now what my problem is, is I don't really have the money to go out and spend a lot of money on getting a new, better quality one.. I have been looking around for hours to see if I can just replace the head, as it is removeable, and all I found were star shaped heads, and I need a square head (I think..)or if there are any suggestions on where I can find a new one that will at least last me a while for cheap. As long as it gets the job done, that is all I am worried about at the moment. But what I don't understand is, what is the difference between a square head and a star head (well obviously one is square and one is a star) but I read somewhere that if your tuning pins are square shaped, then you need a square head. I read somewhere else that a star head will work for either one. I read somewhere else that all tuning pins are star shaped.. So you could say I'm quite confused.


<Added>

"I read somewhere else that all tuning pins are star shaped" - I meant to say I read that they are all square shaped

Sorry, I don't know anything about tuning (that's why I've got a digital!), but you can try PianoWorld's piano tuning forums at
http://www.pianoworld.com/ubb/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/forum/3.html

thanks, I figured it out though

A star head will work just fine.
Get the normal common size. It looks like you have 1.0 size pins.

Good luck.
I charge double when I go to return a piano someone else has tried to learn on. Good piano tuners are not expensive when you realize what they are doing for you.

Anyway, you seem determined, whether you succeed or not it will be a great learning experience for you.