Old Knabe Pinblocks...Jim

[Brian Trout]

Hi Jim,

I can appreciate where you're coming from.  And thanks for the input.  I'm
guessing that if the block was in a little better condition, I might be
thinking about plugs.  But it's in the beginning stages of delamination, and
showing pretty significant signs of it's age (and a few applications of pin
dope).  There's no shame.  It's over a hundred years old.  Overall, I'd say
it was a very well made instrument.  Would the 'mass' of plugs be pretty
stable if they were all epoxied into less than desirable wood?  (Honest
question)  I've had this image in my mind of plugs having a shortened life
because of the wood around them falling apart and not giving them the kind
of support that they would need.  I've not had an experience to disprove or
prove my general feeling.   Feel free to comment if you'd like.

I'll be thinkin'.  :-)  & readin'.

Thanks again,

Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: JIMRPT@AOL.COM <JIMRPT@AOL.COM>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Thursday, August 05, 1999 11:46 PM
Subject: Re: Old Knabe Pinblocks


>
>In a message dated 8/05/1999 10:35:13 PM, btrout@desupernet.net writes:
>
><<"I'm not convinced that to use a bunch of plugs would be a good long term
>repair.">>
>
>Well now Brian lets think about this for a minute, OK?
> If you are replacing the pinblock because the layers are split or because
of
>delamination that is one thing...and by all means replace the block.  If
>however the reason to replace the block is because the pin holes are too
big
>and you don't want to use oversize pins......perhaps we have a different
>problem and need to think about it differently.
>
>  What is the problem "specifically' with using plugs?
>When well fitted and glued with an appropiate glue shouldn't plugs give as
>good service as a new block for at least as long as the new block?
>If not why not?
>
>  Why aren't plugs used all the time? I don't use them often because drying
>block material/cutting/fitting/gluing/leveling plugs takes an extraordinary
>amount of time. I don't like any of the ready made plugs I have tried so I
>make my own and they are a pain.  Having said that.....if I were faced with
a
>very complicated sloped/bowed/angled installation that was mortised 'into'
>the case and stretcher, and the block 'was' good except for hole size, I
>would not automatically rule out using plugs on the entire block. Most pin
>blocks, including S&S's most tortuous ones, are much faster to just install
a
>new block. Some blocks such as the one you have described just 'might' be a
>candidate for plugs, in my opinion, don't just summarily dimiss the
thingees
>out of hand.
>Jim Bryant (FL)
>