I would but the $$$ is hard to come by. :) --- Brian Lawson <lawsonic@global.co.za> wrote: > Stephen, looking through the archives you have been > threatening to do > something about your piano since Novemeber last > year. > > Stop thinking about it and Do Something! drop the > tension and cut the > strings, then you'll be committed > > Brian > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Stephen Airy" <stephen_airy@yahoo.com> > To: <pianotech@ptg.org> > Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2001 5:31 PM > Subject: Re: Restoring old uprights > > > > Question -- what do you guys think of restoring > Ricca > > & Son pianos? I have one and i was wondering if > you > > guys know if it was a good brand, or a junkie or > what > > was it? My piano needs some action work and new > > strings & tuning pins. I think the pinblock is > fine > > -- has 2/0 pins and the pins are fairy uniformly > > slightly loose -- probably would use 4/0. I don't > > know if the soundboard is cracked or not and the > bass > > bridge is somewhat cracked. > > > > --- Newton Hunt <nhunt@optonline.net> wrote: > > > Hi Charles, > > > > > > You ask a lot of good questions, I will try to > > > answer some of them with my > > > thoughts. > > > > > > > "Can you replace a pin block in an old > > > > upright with(out) completely tearing the back > > > apart?" > > > > > > Yes you can, but, is the piano worth the time > and > > > energy? Some old uprights > > > were magnificent instruments, better than what > is > > > affordable today, but some > > > were the cheap stuff like you can buy now. The > old > > > ones like Steinways, Masons, > > > Bush & Lane, and many others were first class > > > pianos. Many of the others like > > > Gulbrensen, as an example, were cheap then and > are > > > worthless today. > > > > > > So, a piano needs to be carefully appraised as > to > > > the original quality and what > > > you are likely to get out of it when your work > is > > > done. Doing a few pianos will > > > give you the information you need to make > rational > > > decisions, so, go to it. > > > > > > Now, technically, it can be done. One is to > drill a > > > large hole into the block > > > and replace the removed material with pin block > > > plugs and redrill. Great care > > > needs to be taken to assure that the plugs are > well > > > and truly glued into place > > > and that they will never (nearly) rotate. > > > > > > Old blocks can be "revived" by dribbling CA glue > > > down the pins, let set, tune, > > > reglue as needed. This is a good solution but > the > > > worst of the lot, except for > > > using pin block "tighteners", a real no-no by > any > > > standard. > > > > > > The third way is to remove the plate, route out > > > sections of the old block and > > > replace with new material. This assumes the old > > > material is mechanically solid > > > and well secured. Replace the plate and > redrill. > > > > > > > 2) In the method with the maple or pinblock > > > material plugs, that requires > > > > taking the plate off, right? Otherwise I can't > see > > > how you'd get the plug > > > > in. Might be a silly question. > > > > > > No, unless it is one of the ones that do not > have > > > plate bushings. The plate can > > > be removed, the holes drilled out then plate > > > replaced and redrilled. Removing > > > an upright plate is not as difficult as in a > grand, > > > most of the time, so not > > > removing one is rather more of a bother. > > > > > > > " Is he talking about replacing the > > > > pinblock, or filling and re-drilling the > holes? > > > > > > No, drilling out the holes with the plate in > place > > > minus the plate bushings. > > > New bushings and redrilling the new plugs. > Plugs > > > made from new pinblock > > > material is the way to go. There is no other > > > material that is useful in this > > > situation. Not epoxy, fiberglass, talcum > powder, > > > etc. > > > > > > > 4) Roy said that sometimes oversized pins > don't > > > work to his satisfaction. In > > > > those cases, what is the problem? Can that > problem > > > be determined ahead of > > > > time, or is it trial and error? > > > > > > Larger pins act like larger windlasses. A large > pin > > > will pull more wire per > > > turn than a smaller pin. Old blocks often > should be > > > plugged or replaced instead > > > of being repinned. Larger pins are very often a > > > compromise and sometimes the > > > swing is the wrong way. Knowing wood, > construction, > > > pins, feel of old and new, > > > testing before committing, knowing quality of > > > product and a lot of other > > > decisions can help determine the better path. > There > > > are so many clues to > > > quality in the action, case, engineering and > other > > > places that can help. > > > Ultimately doing it right helps more than trying > to > > > determine what hides behind > > > a plate. > > > > > > > 5) Regarding using oversized pins on an old > > > upright: Is that just a way to > > > > get the job done in a reasonable and > affordable > > > way for the customer, or is > > > > it something you would do if money weren't an > > > issue? > > > > > > In two words, yes, no. > > > > > > > On the one hand, the pinblock on an old > > > > upright is well protected from the elements > > > > > > Only to a limited degree. Quality of materials, > > > glue, construction and > > > engineering count for far more. Some climates > can > > > destroy any piano and others > > > are benign. Knowing some of the history is > helpful > > > but knowing quality and the > > > materials help more. > > > > > > > and by using larger pins you might just be > > > > delaying or not dealing with a problem (like > > > cracks). > > > > > > Most exactly so, no argument, no discussion, no > > > debate. > > > > > > > Can someone jump in > > > > and offer more opinions? > > > > > > No, mine is the only one that counts. :) Now > if > > > you belief that I know of a > > > bridge in Brooklyn... > > > > > > Have a great Sunday all. > > > > === message truncated === __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com/
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