[CAUT] install bridge pins?

[David Love]

I've gone to replacing pins with a larger size depending on the piano.  Most
Steinways have #6 pins in the capo section, #7 through the tenor, #8 and #9
in the bass.  I don't do the epoxy method anymore either.  After pulling out
the old pins, cleaning the old dag off with denatured alcohol  and sanding
out the string grooves, I coat the bridge top with thin CA glue allowing it
to run down into the holes (wear a mask).  Lately I've taken to staining the
very top of the bridge (not the notches) with some wood colored stain like
cherry or mahogany first.  After the CA application the holes themselves
will be reinforced enough to redrill which I do with the next size up: #7 in
the capo, #8 in the tenor and #9 through the bass.  (If the bridge pins are
already those sizes I don't go larger than that.)  The CA also will size the
holes just slightly.  After drilling I then recut the notches.  The stain
makes seeing the notch line easier and looks nice when you coat the bridge
with clear lacquer which I do when all is done.  I also use rounded pins
setting them to the desired height above the bridge cap during installation
and don't file.  Once the pins are  installed I secure them with another
application of thin CA, then shoot with clear lacquer.  I don't use a
lubricant on the bridge top, doesn't seem necessary and can mar your really
nicely finished surface.    

 

As an aside, on most rebuilds with the original board I recap the capo
section (even if I don't recap the rest of the piano) and take advantage of
the opportunity to make any speaking length changes or address bridge height
concerns.  In that case, I don't stain the new bridge caps  (new quarter
sawn maple just looks too nice) and finish also with clear lacquer.  

 

Resurfacing the bridge, repining and recutting the notches is an essential
part of any quality rebuilding job, in my view.  

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mark
Cramer
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 1:34 PM
To: CAUT
Subject: [CAUT] install bridge pins?

 

A few years ago I ran out of good reasons not to pin a new bridge-cap with
the same epoxy method (Mr. Bill's) we've been using to re-pin original caps
with for over a decade.

 

More recently, I've tried to add some of the heresy gleaned from this list
(you know who you are ;>) into my procedure, as follows: 

 

1.) Drilling the holes to extra depth.

 

2.) Installing rounded-pins to final height, rather than the traditional
filing method.

 

3.) Coating the surface with McLube rather than Dag (graphite).

 

Any other suggestions.? 

 

(No we don't have a handy source of Titanium bridge pins or a hydraulic
pin-press)

 

The bridges I've already done this way sound nice and clean, and render
well. but then they all do, for the first year anyhow. ;>)

 

Best regards,

Mark Cramer, RPT

Brandon University

 

 

 

 

 

     

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