McGyver Soundboard Band-Aid

[gordon stelter]

You didn't do any damage except that the longer the
cracks are unfixed the worse they will get. You can't
shim a  board from behind, so forget shimming unless
she wants it restrung. And if it's an 1890's Knabe you
will have to remove one or both of the sides to get
the plate out of the way, so forget it if thats' the
case 9 poun intended ) until you have more experience.
    I would advise that you get some of the Schaff rib
clamps with the piano wire and wingnut, and use these
to get the ribs tight against the board. That should
take caer of the buzzes, and stop further damage. And
forget about the cracks for now. If you have to, wipe
some wood glue into them. Something that can be easily
removed when re[pairiong from the front, later.    
Thump
--- David Ilvedson <ilvey@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> Well, #1 you should always use your competitors
> business cards when doing that kind of repair...;-]
> 
> David Ilvedson, RPT
> Pacifica, California
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Original message
> From: ed440@mindspring.com
> To: "Pianotech List"
> Received: 1/24/2006 1:12:42 AM
> Subject: Re: McGyver Soundboard Band-Aid
> 
> 
> John-
> By telling the truth, you have begun a good customer
> relationship.
> This is excellent business practice.
> Ed Sutton
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: A440 Piano Service
> Sent: Jan 24, 2006 8:17 AM
> To: PTG List
> Subject: McGyver Soundboard Band-Aid
> 
> 
> Good Morning All,
> 
> Yesterday I called on a lady with a nice old Knabe
> Upright.  During the inspection phase of the service
> I found a few buzzes when certain bass strings were
> played.  Further inspection revealed the buzzes were
> emanating from soundboard cracks.  YIKES!  She had
> been hearing them, too, and they were annoying her. 
> I fixed those buzzes on the spot by folding a couple
> of business cards and inserting them into the
> cracks.  I told her that once I practiced doing
> soundboard shim repairs on a couple of "guinea pigs"
> in my garage, I'd contact her about doing the
> repairs the right way.  She's interested in having
> them done.
> 
> I made the decision to do the band-aid in the
> meantime like that because I know she plays the
> piano often, and she lives alone, and it was so out
> of tune!  I just didn't want to turn around and
> leave by dismissing the piano until the repairs
> could be done.
> 
> What I'd like to ask those of you with more
> experience is this: did I put the piano at any
> further risk by doing this "McGyver" type quick-fix
> in the short term?  It didn't seem like it could
> aggravate the problem, really, and that the main
> downside would be that the cards were susceptible to
> vibrating out again....  should I have put a drop of
> Tite-bond on them?  Should I NOT have done this for
> some reason?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> John Dorr
> Helena, MT
> 


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