lyre, lyre... and the pants aren't evening smoldering

[Allan L. Gilreath, RPT]

Thanks to all who replied to my query on the lyre business.  We finished the
repair on both the Steinway and the Baldwin.

Both had the wedges glued into the tenon slots.  In addition, the Baldwin
had woodscrews through the lyre into the tenon.  After removing the screws I
could drive the bottom box off of the Baldwin lyre.  The Steinway, however,
required drilling into the wedges then grinding between the screw holes.
The wedges then had to be removed from the tenons.  We found that using
wallpaper remover and a heat gun removed the wedges.  One of my apprentices
came up with the idea of using a piece of piano wire, held at each end with
vise grips, to pull the wedge out of the slot after applying heat.  We cut
new wedges from white oak.  We then reassembled and reinstalled the lyres
and all seems to be well.  At least it will be easier to repair if it comes
loose again.

Hopefully somebody else will find this information of good use and thanks
again for all the help.

Allan
Allan L. Gilreath, RPT
Assistant Institute Director
PTG Annual Convention
Arlington, VA July 5-9, 2000
Agilreath@mindspring.com
706 629-3063
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of
Newton Hunt
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 1999 9:22 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: lyre, lyre...

There are two approaches, actually three.

First, I would use a nice sharp chisel about the right width and place
the point on the glue joint between the tenon and the wedge with the
bevel toward the wedge and give it a sharp whack.  Do the same for the
other side of the glue joint.  If you have been successful you may be
able, with a properly sized piece of hardwood drive the wedge deeper
in to t he slot.  Problem solved.  Reinstall.

Clamp the lyre up securely and spray accelerator around the joint
between the pillar and the box.  Squirt thin CA around the tenon and
the box checking often to see that CA is not dripping down the
pillar.  Keep this area well coated with accelerator.  Once the joint
is completely filled it will set and you will have a permanent joint
that will not come apart.

Finally you can take the assembly to the drill press and use a brad
point bit drill out most of the wedge on both sides.  Drive the parts
apart without doing undue damage to the finish.  Make new wedges and
clean the glue out of the old joints and clean out any remaining parts
of the old wedge reassemble and make sure the pedal will be pointing
toward the back leg of the piano when reassembled and glued up.  Use a
liberal amount of glue to secure the tenon in the hole and the wedge
in the tenon.  Clamp and allow to dry.

Glue is not needed in this joint, only a real tight wedge.  Yamahas
and Kawais do not rely upon glue in this joint.  That is why number
one works so well and quickly.

                Newton