This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hellooooo list! I will also be inquiring directly to our resident Kawai technician Don, but I figured I'd get the ball rolling now. I'm quite interested to hear what everyone will have to say on this (if you read it all the way through!). I have purchased my first piano of my own, my first GRAND piano, and consequently my first of several major projects (wrapped in one piano). The piano is a 1970s Kawai 600, in decent condition, needing some detailed cleaning and tlc, little to no action work, 1/2 step flat. It would have been put for sale for about $8k as is with a bit of cleaning, tuning, string twisting and lubing, but since it is now *MINE*, I'm planning to soup this baby up to make it what *I* want it to be, and to use the opportunity to *carefully* work on skills in areas I don't have much experience. Following is a list of areas of concern/plans to fix/renew. The worst areas are listed first: a.. First of all, the bass bridge could use some improvement (terrible grammar, I know); the holes are enlarged with some small cracks around them - no cracks that reach the edge of the bridge or run the length, or even run between pins, but again the holes are enlarged enough I'm pretty sure once I raise the string tension it'll be sketchy. There are spots in the treble where the holes are a bit enlarged with tiny cracks at the rims of the holes as well. Trebles look similar to Mark Davidson's project, bass is not nearly as bad as his, though. I've NO experience with epoxy/CA-glueing bridges, and there seems to be a slew of techniques and opinions on the matter. Easiest/most effective method? Where can I get West End epoxy and CA glue (not at Home Depot, it seems!) - ? At what point do you decide it's okay to just apply epoxy, and where's the point where you really need to replace the bridge or have it recapped? b.. Something spilled into this piano at some point, directly in the middle of the soundboard. When we first got it to the shop, it looked like a simple cleanup with a moist rag. Until someone sprayed compressed air into the piano to clear the dust and cobwebs and part of the decal (in the spill zone) subsequently flaked off. It was my understanding that usually the decal is under the varnish - if this is the case and the varnish is compromised (please excuse my ignorance on this matter, btw), am I looking at stripping and revarnishing this puppy? How critical is it if I leave it? What is the best way to clean this? I am planning on restringing, so I'll be able to expose the soundboard more, but I'm afraid removing the plate isn't too realistic unless it absolutely MUST be done. I don't really want to mess with downbearing on this piano - it's too valuable to me personally to risk completely screwing up. Maybe when I get a house with my own workshop and can play rebuilder on some clunkers, but not now if I can help it. Has anyone ever touched up or revarnished a soundboard by masking off the plate and working around it? I feel stupid asking such a question, but my pseudo-"manager"/scheduler/learning-on-the-job-body-repair-guy seems to think it can be done, and I'm QUITE skeptical. What about spraying a new finish on the plate? What's the best thing to use and the best method? Can that be done with the plate still in the piano? c.. cleaning in general - is the general consensus still that warm water with a touch of white vinegar is a Good Thing for wiping down the works? (and YES I am in the process of researching the archives on all of this, but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask for any new opinions) a.. restringing - the strings are just funky. Since it's to be *my* piano, I want new strings. Suggestions on the best? What about the Mapes Gold Series? Opinions? The pin block feels fine, and since the story of this piano is that it sat in some lady's parlour nearly untouched for 30-some-odd-years, it probably wasn't tuned much if at all (since it's 100 cents flat!). Is restringing/repinning the pinblock going to be a problem here? Should I pitch-raise and tune this piano before removing the strings to sort of "break in" the pinblock and ease the wood a bit or no? b.. I really want to replace the damper felts - they're just worn with age. Best kind of damper felt to get? c.. Back to punching felt - where to get these Wurzen punchings people were raving about in a prior discussion? d.. Replacing the rest of the felt in the case - is there a must-see resource to teach me the best way to get the prettiest and most effective result? Is there ANY REASON anyone can give me why I should have to replace the blue felt with more blue felt, or can I just go with whatever pleases me asthetically? e.. The keys have yellowed badly in the mid-section. It's not nicotene, and I don't think it's a spill. I think it's just time and lack of light that have yellowed them because they feel just fine to the touch and nothing is warped. Best way to bleach them? Like I said, from what I've seen, the action seems fine. Hammers will want a light filing and voicing to my tastes, keys need easing BADLY, and regulation is imminent. There appears to be a little bit of chewing or deterioration on the front rail punchings, but not much - I just want to replace them for me ;) As soon as I can, I will try and get pictures to post. Despite my list, it's not in terrible shape - I just can't afford a Shigeru or even an RX, so I want to make this the best I can in the meantime. Thanks in advance, ilex ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/a9/db/f6/59/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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