World-Class Junk of Susans muses (rambling) bench bottoms.

[Dan M. Hallett, Jr.]

Thanks, Jim:

Dan Hallett

pianoman wrote:
> 
> Hi Dan,
> It is late now but in the next day or so I will post my method of bench
> bottom replacement methods.
> James Grebe
> R.P.T. of the P.T.G. from St. Louis, MO. USA, Earth
> Piano Service and Piano Periperals
> Creator of Hardwood PLTR's and Custom Piano Benches
> pianoman@inlink.com         If I wake up in the morning, it WILL be a great
> day!
> 
> ----------
> > From: Dan M. Hallett, Jr. <dhalle@toolcity.net>
> > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > Subject: Re: World-Class Junk of Susans muses (rambling)
> > Date: Thursday, July 09, 1998 8:09 PM
> >
> > Dear James:
> >
> > How do you design the replacement bench bottom? Would be very interested
> > to see a post on this facet of your business.
> >
> > Dan Hallett, Jr. RPT
> >
> > pianoman wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Susan and all,
> > > Your good article brought out several things that have been problems
> for
> > > all of us.  Consider case parts removed.  There is no best place.  If
> you
> > > lean them they can fall, if you lay them on the floor they can scratch
> the
> > > floor but also someone can trip over them.  If you lay them on a couch
> will
> > > the client like that?  I have one client that makes sure I put the
> music
> > > desk of her Yamaha on a rug not her marble floor.
> > >         On the subject of taking off shoes:  I am not the most graceful
> person in
> > > the world and I don't know about you, but it is slippery in your
> socking
> > > feet, downright dangerous.  On holes in socks, I try to be as careful
> as I
> > > can, as that is why I only purchase black socks.  I never have to worry
> > > about matching them in the drawer, I just dump-em-in. The other thing
> is
> > > maybe some of you did a lot of barefooting when you were younger.  I
> > > didn't.  I hardly ever go barefoot at home even in the bedroom.
> Another
> > > thing is that I find it painful to try to depress the pedals to use
> them or
> > > test them out.  This doesn't even approach the problem of removing an
> > > action and keybed on the slippery floor.
> > >         I asked one of my (Asian) used to be Oriental, clients what was
> the
> > > objection to Oriental and why Asian was preferred.  She really didn't
> have
> > > a good answer in my opinion for that.  I do not use "Oriental" in a
> > > derogatory manner but I can't really tell the difference between
> Korean,
> > > Japanese, or Chinese.  Is that bad?  To me Asian should refer to the
> > > continent and the countries that make it up including India, Pakistan
> and ,
> > > others.  Supposedly one of the complaints other countries have is that
> on
> > > American maps, North America is in the center and the rest of the world
> is
> > > equally divided right and left.  I can understand that some.  But then
> I
> > > asked one of these people how the maps looked in their country and they
> > > informed me that their continent was in the middle and the rest of the
> > > world equally on each side.  If that is true, so what.
> > > On benches, one of the first things I do is feel down and see if the
> bottom
> > > is secure on what I am sitting on.  I do this for a couple of reasons.
> I
> > > have a side business of bench repair and building and have found that
> much
> > > of the rigidity of the bench comes from a secure bottom.  When it is
> loose
> > > it puts all the pressure on the leg glue joints and corner brackets.
> > > Tomorrow I am taking my second new piano bench bottom replacement back
> to
> > > the client.   I  install a new plywood bottom that I glue, brad, and
> screw
> > > in place.  I guarantee it for the length of my life.  I have gotten
> quite
> > > good at this repair and can do it in just about 30 minutes.  I charge $
> 75
> > > for it and can do it in just about 30 minutes in the shop.  That makes
> $150
> > > extra this week above tuning and it adds up over a period of time and
> gives
> > > me play time with my tools and wood along with making a stronger bench
> and
> > > usable again for music storage.  If other parts of the bench are
> broken, it
> > > just adds up the total to repair.  To me this is just as good as
> installing
> > > Damp-Chasers money wise and I enjoy the work.  Any other thoughts on
> the
> > > socking feet slippery problem?  Sorry to have rambled.
> > > James Grebe
> > > R.P.T. of the P.T.G. from St. Louis, MO. USA, Earth
> > > Piano Service and Piano Periperals
> > > Creator of Hardwood PLTR's and Custom Piano Benches
> > > pianoman@inlink.com         If I wake up in the morning, it WILL be a
> great
> > > day! minute in the shop