This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Evidently Baldwin had an on going problem with this separation at a = certain point with their verticals. A few years ago I ran into this same problem and thought since the piano = was bairly out of warranty their may be a chance of their honoring a = claim. I should have known better but it was worth a try. They sent me = their recomended repair procedure for thisa problem as follows: BALDWIN REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR SEPARATION IN PINBLOCK/BACKPOST ASSEMBLY 1. Remove action from the piano. DUH 2. Create a uniform mark along the back of the piano to coincide with = the screw line along the top of the plate/tuning pin area in the front. 3. Remove only one screw at a time for repair. This prevents the = need for lessening the tension on the strings thus making a more stable = tuning after repair completion. 4. Starting with the lowest bass screw, remove the screw and drill a = hole into the pinbnlock area from the rack aiming toward the empty screw = hole. As the drill hits the existing = hole there will be a tendency to self guide through the plate hole. 5. Choose a carriage bolt with an excess length sufficient to accept = a lock washer and acorn nut. For additional spacing, a flat washer may = be used. 6. Force glue into the area relative to the replaced screw. Insert = the carriage bolt from the back of the piano though the plate. Install = the lock washer and tighten. 7. Remove excess glue from top and repeat above procedure for each = screw. 8. It is recommended to replace all the screws along the top of the = plate to insure the longevity of the repair. Material Needed: 8" long 5/16" diameter drill bit 5/16" diameter carriage bolts (1 for = each screw removed) 5/16" flat washers 5/16 lock washers 5/16" acorn nuts (hex nuts may be = used through not as attractive) My repair went fine although I didn't follow all of Baldwin's = suggestions. I did loosen the tension in the piano and I used epoxy. = Last I checked it was still up to pitch. Sooo, If you don't like their repair procedure, don't call me----call = "Gibson" ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Michael Spalding=20 To: Pianotech=20 Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2004 10:54 PM Subject: RE: Apart at the Seams Dave, I just finished a repair on a similar Baldwin this week. This one = had a drop action, serial number put it around 1964. Backposts and = spacer blocks light gage softwood, and the damage was about what you = described. Started by droppping pitch by turning each pin 30 degrees. = Then used clamps (Pony pipe clamps) to close up the separation as much = as possible. The separation did not close completely, I'd say there was = still about .10" gap at the two worst backposts. Drilled through for = bolts, I use 5/16 x 6" flat-head machine screws from boltdepot.com. = Becasue of the severe separation, and the less-than-substantial design, = I also drilled and dowelled the pinblock to the backposts. Start the = drill at the top front of the pinblock, right behind the plate. Aim the = drill downward about 30 degrees below horizontal ( try not to hit any = tuning pins). Poured a bunch of West System epoxy into the voids. ! I = usually drill downward into the cracks with a 1/8" drill every inch or = two to make a channel for the epoxy to get down into the bottom of the = crack, but for much of this piano that wasn't necessary. Eventually it = stopped drinking epoxy, and I went away to let it cure over the weekend. = Pitch-raise and tuning yesterday indicate that the piano is very stiff = and stable, at least for now. Only time will tell how permanent the = condition will be. hope this helps Mike ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Dave Bunch=20 To: pianotech@ptg.org Sent: 6/2/2004 4:42:24 PM=20 Subject: Apart at the Seams Hello all; Being called to tune Baldwin vertical today, I came across a good = reason NOT to tune the piano today. Not sure of the model, it was not a 243. It was close to console = height with a studio size action and keys built lower at the rear to = compensate for the difference. First thing I noticed were hammers = sitting way up off the hammer rail. Then noticed that the piano was not = only a half step flat but very unevenly flat. Then I noticed some = splintered wood behind the felt covering the pinblock. I peeled back = some felt and found that the top of the piano had pulled away from the = second and third back posts from the treble end. The top of the posts = were protruding out the back a good third of an inch. I sighted down the = top front edge of the plate and could see a prominent bulge forward in = the area consistent with the damage. I have done several repairs on old verticals where the pinblock is = gaping open. Fill it with glue and put long bolts all the way through as = substitutes for the plate bolts, but this is different. Is there a good, = permanent repair for this? The piano is only 15 years old. Anyone seen = this? The posts struck me as being very light weight. Dave Bunch ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/01/83/75/ab/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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