This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Good point John. Here in the Sunshine State I have seen quite a few = termite-infested piano in my few short years in this business. I have = also ripped apart a couple of them. It seems to be much like rotten wood = on a boat - if you see a very little evidence of the affliction, safe to = assume there is about 100 times more damage that you can't see. Terry Farrell ----- Original Message -----=20 From: John Ross=20 To: Pianotech=20 Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2003 3:58 PM Subject: Re: Pinblock Separation Repair & Pitch Change Hi Richard, At 200 cents flat, I don't drop the pitch. I used to use 1/2" carriage bolts, but in a discussion on the list, = that was considered overkill. So 3/8" will be good enough. We don't have a termite problem up here (Canada), but I think I would = check out the piano further, for a termite problem. Someone had brought a piano up from the US, with a termite problem in = the keys. They appeared to have just a little hole, but in fact had been = hollowed out in places. Much more damage than indicated. Regards, John M. Ross Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Richard Strang=20 To: 'Pianotech'=20 Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 5:50 PM Subject: RE: Pinblock Separation Repair & Pitch Change Thanks for the info, Terry. I have to go make that very repair to a = piano shortly and was contemplating whether or not to lower the pitch = first. It this case, the separation is about 1/2" in the bass and about = 1/4" in the treble. Those pesky little termites are in there, too. I = think they are causing the problem. They are not in the pinblock, = though, so the piano is in tune, though 200 cents flat. I was also wondering what size bolts to use, 1/4", 3/8"? What do = you recommend? Thanks. Richard -----Original Message----- From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org = [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Farrell Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 8:09 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Pinblock Separation Repair & Pitch Change Differing opinions regarding the benefit of lowering pitch prior = to drawing a pinblock/backpost separation back together have been = expressed on this list. I am one that generally feels more comfortable = lowering pitch. I thought it might be of benefit to put some numbers on = potential pitch changes.=20 Yesterday I did one of these repairs on a late model (1980s) = Baldwin Acrosonic console. It had an approximate 1/4-inch separation = between the pinblock and the backposts and deadwood back assembly. The = separation had been "repaired" in the past with something that appeared = to be silicone bathtub adhesive - surprisingly (?) the separation = appeared to have widened since the application of the silicone. The = piano was tuned at that time (and presumably tuned at standard pitch).=20 Prior to my repair the piano was fairly uniformly 75 cents flat. I = dropped the pitch to between 200 and 250 cents flat prior to any = clamping. I yucked in West System epoxy thickened with #403 Microfibers. = (A fine fiber blend, is used as a thickening additive with = resin/hardener to create a multi-purpose adhesive, especially for = bonding wood. Epoxy thickened with microfibers has good gap-filling = qualities while retaining excellent wetting/penetrating capability.) I = drew the gap closed slowly going back and forth among the six 3/4" pipe = clamps (of which two got bent pretty good!). The separation appeared to = close very close to 100%. I then checked pitch again. Piano was fairly uniformly about 75 = cents flat. Therefore, it appears that closing the 1/4-inch gap resulted = in a pitch increase of approximately 150 cents. I will be going back to the job on Friday morning to install a few = through bolts, remove clamps, pitch raise and tune. If there is anyone = out there that perhaps has not seen this repair done (or whoever for = whatever reason) wants to see a few photos, I will take them Friday = morning. Let me know. Terry Farrell ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/6e/46/ac/7f/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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