loose wood joints

[Mark Potter]

I would proceed with caution with this method.  By the time the heat from the heat gun reached the interior of the joint enough to soften any glue you run a real risk of overheating the finish, causing damage not so easily camouflaged.  There is also the possibility of weakening the veneer glue joint, when applicable.  
 
It could work, but to my way of thinking there are definite inherent problems lurking.  I'd stick with vinegar, when necessary.  Fact is, in my experience most of the time the bench has become rickety to the point anyone wants it fixed, most if not all the joints have been compromised to the point where a sharp blow knocks each joint apart with little trouble.  I use a regular hammer, against a felt-lined chunk of wood.  
 
As always, there are exceptions to every rule...
 
Mark Potter

--- On Fri, 9/26/08, Fenton Murray <fmurray at cruzio.com> wrote:
excellent idea.



 You could use a heat gun to loosen the joints.

Gregor



From: fmurray at cruzio.com
To: bases-loaded76 at sbcglobal.net; pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: loose wood joints
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:19:32 -0700





I totally agree with Mark here. I knock them down with a dead blow or rubber mallet then clamp it up checking with a square as you go. Using a flat bench top allows you to clamp the entire assembly down assuring all legs will touch on a flat floor. The supper glue won't work for long, the bench will soon start racking back and forth again.
Fenton

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Mark Potter 
To: Pianotech List 
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: loose wood joints





--- On Wed, 9/24/08, Brian Doepke <bdoepke at verizon.net> wrote:




Did I read somewhere that vinegar can be used to tighten up wood joints….like the ones in old piano benches?
 
Would anyone be able to confirm or deny this….and if not….what can be done to tighten the loose joints of an old bench? 



I am not a big fan of squirting something into the joints of a bench and expecting long-lasting results.  With few exceptions it doesn't take much more than an hour or so to totally knock the thing apart and re-glue it properly.  The old benches are worth it  - you literally cannot buy benches like that anymore.  Go for it and do it right the first time... 



Mark Potter 





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