Thoughts...CNC pinblocks... Mark

[JIMRPT@AOL.COM]

Brian, Mark;
 There are many, many, varied opinions about the plate flange/pin block fit
:-)
These range from "don't worry about it" to "turn the piano over and fill the
flange /block joint with epoxy". They, the opinions, can't 'all' be right can
they ?

  As a matter of pride in my work I strive to make a close block/flange fit. I
worry 'more' about side to side, and front to back, taper and solid/close
pinweb contact with the top of the block, so that the plate does not seem to
move when screws are installed.  I have no hesitancy in saying "that's close
enough" when I realize that I am being anal retentive on the flange fit :-)

  Something that does, in my opinion, add to the stability of an instrument,
if not to the sound also, is gluing 'any' pinblock to the stretcher. (of
course this does not apply to those instruments where the stretcher is
designed to be removed for service :-) The extra time and trouble to do this
has always been rewarded with improved stability and tonal quality. No
empirical evidence, other than my opinion though and one set of measurements I
took last year on a before and after basis on a M&H, which I posted at the
time. The increases were very noticable and worthwhile.

 The original question that started this particular thread was about a C3 in a
church wasn't it?....rather than question the flange fit as being the
instability culprit I would look to environmental conditions as being the
driving factor, DC system notwithstanding,.....but I could be off
base......however, as Mr. Harvey alluded to, there are an awful lot of "poorly
flange fitted" C3's in service with no instability problems.
My opinion.
Jim Bryant (FL)