Scott: There are three methods you might try, other than replacing the whole block. 1. Inspect the block in each of the pin webbing area. If the area is bad enough, like the cracks are all the way through the block, or there is other damage to the pin block, cut out that webbing area, and make a new pin block for that section, and glue it in, using epoxy. To make sure is is a tight fit, angle the cuts like a trapazoid. 2. If the cracks do not go all the way through the block, rout out about 1 inch of pin block material in the webbing area you are working on, and then make a new plank to fit in there. This is a little more trickier, because now you have to match up the pin holes. (these two methods require a lot of patience, and some good wood working skills.) 3. The last method I tried on an older Weber grand and it works. I shored up the bottom of the pin block with a plank, with felt and wax paper between the plank and the pin block. I then filled all the holes half way with an impact resin epoxy, the type you use on boats. I then drove 2 OO tuning pins in all the holes. I let the epoxy dry for 1 week, took out all the pin, and strung the piano with 3 OOO pins. I did this 5 years ago, and the piano is doing fine. (I had to clamp the pin block in several areas, because of delamination, but it worked). I use this impact resin for small pin block repairs, when the customer doesn't want to spend the money to replace a whole block. I don't guarantee the rest of the pin block when I do this patch up work, but it gives another couple of years to an otherwise useless piano. Willem Blees RPT St. Louis
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