separated back

[Don Price]

Clyde -  I see you have already received some good suggestion from some of
the other people on the list.  I think the suggestion of the carriage bolts
would probably give the best appearing result since it has a nicely rounded
head.

If my memory  serves I believe a carriage bolt has a round head with a
square shank.  The  purpose of the square shank is  to prevent the bolt from
turning as the nut is tightened.   My concern would be that the square shank
might start turning in the wood,  which would prevent the nut from being
tightened as much as you would prefer.   I would suggest using a  hack saw
to place a slot in the head before installing.   You could then use a
screwdriver to hold the bolt while tightening the nut if it became
necessary.

 dcp@sosinc.net
Don Price



-----Original Message-----
From: Clyde Hollinger <cedel@redrose.net>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Tuesday, March 31, 1998 1:37 PM
Subject: separated back


>Friends:
>
>One of the schools I serve has a 1980 Everett studio model 1155 piano
>which has a separation across the top, probably not more than 1/16 of an
>inch.  Doing this repair looks pretty simple and straightforward, but I
>have never done this and would like professional results the first
>time.  I'm going to have to look at this piano the rest of my tuning
>days, most likely.
>
>Please correct any of the following, which outlines what I would
>probably do:
>1.  Let the tension down (is this necessary?)  2.  Shield the piano
>interior from dirt.  3.  Work slow-setting epoxy into the crack as much
>as possible.  4.  Pull the top together with 4-5 huge clamps which I
>need to buy somewhere.  5.  Remove the plate screws across the top edge,
>to be replaced with carriage bolts.  4.  Drill through the entire back
>to take carriage bolts big enough to do the job (what diameter?).  5.
>Insert and snug up the carriage bolts, remove the clamps, tune the
>piano, and that's it (or should I wait a couple days for the epoxy to
>work?).
>
>Your help and comments will be appreciated.  Thank you.
>
>Clyde Hollinger, RPT
>Lititz, PA
>
>