[CAUT] FW: Re: crack

[Jeannie Grassi]

Hi Jeff,
In my experience, it is very difficult to keep a piano in tune with such a
heating system. It is as if you placed the piano directly over the heat
source.  We would normally advise clients not to place the piano directly
over a forced air heat duct or in its path and yet with radiant floor heat
one has no choice.  Putting a thick carpet (with pad) under a grand piano
may disperse the heat a little bit, but it doesn't solve the problem
completely.  I used to have radiant floor heat in my previous home.  It was
nice for people (and pets) because your feet are always warm, but furniture
squeaked and groaned from loosening joints.  It seemed drier than other
types of heat.

Depending on how it is installed, it may not be as bad for an upright that
is against the wall.  Sometimes the coils are not extended all the way to
the walls and an upright just misses sitting directly over them.  

Jeannie Grassi, RPT
Bainbridge Island, WA

-----Original Message-----
From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Jeff
Stickney
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 11:17 AM
To: caut at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [CAUT] FW: Re: crack

If this is a gray market Yamaha, I have a customer who purchased one and 
had it shipped to dry Montana.  The cracks didn't appear instantly, but 
they are definitely there now.  He also has radiant floor heat.  Anyone 
have any idea if that heat source has a drying/heating effect on pianos 
- more than forced air or steam sources?  I know it warms cabinets, 
furniture, etc. noticeably.

Jeff Stickney

Mark Schecter wrote:
> Hi, Dave.
>
> I looked at the photos, and on a whim, ran the serial 
> (http://tinyurl.com/mwmmox). The piano, made in 1977, is not a US 
> Yamaha. So, especially if it lived its early life in humid Japan, it 
> may have been a less than ideal candidate to survive South Texas. Clue?
>
> I agree, I doubt the crack resulted from moving the piano. It might 
> not have been noticed before, but it probably didn't just suddenly 
> open. In any event, I doubt Yamaha would be very sympathetic - they 
> have tried to caveat the emptor.
>
> -Mark
>
>
>
> David Ilvedson wrote:
>> List,
>>
>> A furniture repair fellow I do work for, emailed me some photos for a
>> moving claim.   From the info given, I thought it wasn't moving
>> damage.   What do you guys think?
>>
>>
>>> Hi David,
>>
>> Here are the photos.  The customer says he heard it crack as the 
>> movers were taking it out of the room.  Origin address was in South
>>  Texas, very hot and dry.   Is this even repairable?<
>