new one reply reply

[pianoman]

I did not see bugs.  I don't know anything else that could have done the
damage.
James Grebe
R.P.T. from St. Louis
pianoman@inlink.com
"I am only as good as my last tuning"

----------
> From: Danny Moore <danmoore@ih2000.net>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: new one reply
> Date: Saturday, December 20, 1997 2:36 AM
> 
> Er, James, just how big would you say these bugs are?
> 
> Danny Moore
> 
> pianoman wrote:
> 
> > Actually there is too much wood missing to use wood restorer.  Needed
is
> > complete filler blocks replaced and what ever else they call those
supports
> > back there.
> > It really gives you a creepy feeling and makes you hope you are not
> > carrying any of those bugs home.
> > James Grebe
> > R.P.T. from St. Louis
> > pianoman@inlink.com
> > "I am only as good as my last tuning"
> >
> > ----------
> > > From: Lance Lafargue <lafargue@iAmerica.net>
> > > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > > Subject: Re: new one
> > > Date: Friday, December 19, 1997 7:23 AM
> > >
> > > James,
> > > You're only as good as your last estimate, and it sounds like it was
a
> > good
> > > one.  Man!  Sounds scary.  I wouldn't think that piano wood (HA!)
hold a
> > > tuning for long.  I wood be curious who tuned it last and if it is
likely
> > > that they tuned it to 440, or the low pitch is due to their cutting
> > corners
> > > five years ago.  If the back is separated, it is likely the bugs. It
> > sounds
> > > like this wood be an excellent opportunity to experiment with that
"Wood
> > > Restorer" product.
> > > Lance Lafargue, RPT
> > > New Orleans Chapter
> > > Covington, LA.
> > > lafargue@iamerica.net
> > >
> > > ----------
> > > > From: pianoman <pianoman@inlink.com>
> > > > To: pianotech@ptg.org
> > > > Subject: new one
> > > > Date: Thursday, December 18, 1997 5:21 PM
> > > >
> > > > Today I ran across something I have never seen before.  This fellow
> > > called
> > > > me up for a tuning appointment for his Baldwin console.  It had
been
> > > about
> > > > 5 years since last tuned and he said he thought he had a bug
problem as
> > > > something had eaten through the protective felt covering over the
> > > pinblock.
> > > > When I got there this morning and opened the lid, WOW.  There was
one
> > > place
> > > > about 4 inches in diameter eaten through down into the wood in back
of
> > > the
> > > > pinblock and directly above that into the bottom surface of the
lid.  I
> > > > told him that the felt covering should be removed so we could see
the
> > > > extent of the damage.  He tore it off and all along the top were
gaping
> > > > holes and the space between the back post ends were hollow from
being
> > > eaten
> > > > away.  In addition, I guess because the filler block had been eaten
> > away
> > > > the pinblock was separated from the back about 1/8" or so .  The
> > dampers
> > > > were not raising from the strings properly and the pitch was over
-120c
> > > > flat in the middle and worse towards the treble end.  I told him
that
> > the
> > > > normal fix was to pull the front to the back with clamps and put in
lag
> > > > screws gluing everything back together but the problem was that
there
> > is
> > > > nothing to glue the pinblock back to.  Strangely enough there was
no
> > > other
> > > > damage over the rest of the piano inside or out.  I don't know
enough
> > > about
> > > > termites but it would seem that they would be damaging something
else
> > > close
> > > > by.  He said the piano had been in the same place for over 10
years.  I
> > > > advised that he call an exterminator to check out the damage and to
see
> > > if
> > > > he could recognize the perpetrator.  The eaten away part was a drab
> > gray
> > > > flaky color.  I advised also to check with his insurance to see if
he
> > had
> > > > any coverage due to insect damage and wrote on his receipt that I
> > thought
> > > > the piano was a total loss and see if that would get him anywhere.
> > > > Remember this is not in the tropics where this may be common, it is
the
> > > St.
> > > > Louis suburbs not far from where I live.
> > > >     Do you think I gave the right advice?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > James Grebe
> > > > R.P.T. from St. Louis
> > > > pianoman@inlink.com
> > > > "I am only as good as my last tuning"
> 
> 
>