Separated pinblock repair

[Clyde Hollinger]

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Tommy,

If you remove the clamps before the glue even has time to harden, then
it's appears that you aren't counting on the glue to do any of the
work.  Why use it?

I've done maybe a half dozen of these jobs, and none of them have
failed, either.  I had no knowledge on what to do when I came across the
first one, so I tried glue and pulled it together the best I could with
large screws from the back.  No clamps.  It's still holding, but I'm not
proud of that job.

On one I did nothing more than fill the small crack with epoxy as was
recommended by the service technician from the piano manufacturer for
whom I was doing the warranty work.  That is holding, too, and since it
was one of those verticals that has felt on top of the pinblock,  you
would never know it was ever repaired (except that I never glued the
felt on so I could keep an eye on it).

For all others I do basically the same as you do, without letting down
the tension, except I use epoxy instead of Titebond, larger diameter
bolts, and I don't remove the clamps until a couple days later.

Regards,
Clyde Hollinger, RPT
Lititz, PA, USA

P.S.  I'll be going through Birmingham next week, but since I'll be on a
chartered bus I won't be able to stop.

Bigeartb@AOL.COM wrote:

> Stephen:
> The crack in the top of the Gulbransen sounds like a separated pin
> block. On more than one occassion I have repaired the separated pin
> block on many pianos....mainly Everett Studio pianos  without lowering
> the pitch from A-440. I fill the crack....many up to l/8" wide....with
> Titebond Yellow Glue.....protect the plate with oak strips....pull
> crack together with attatched "C" clamps....remove one screw at top of
> plate at a time....drill completely through the screw hole through
> back of instrument and replace with bolts ....3/16 X ? ...long enought
> to hold the plate, block and frame secure with lock nuts &
> washers....proceed to the next plate screw until all are
> secure....Remove "C" Clamps ONLY AFTER ALL BOLTS HAVE BEEN SECURED.
> I'm sure this is unorthodox to a number of qualified technicians but
> I've been repairing separated pin blocks for 25 years this way and as
> of this date.....not one...not one has ever failed in any shape, form,
> nor fashion. They all hold up t! o A-440 and It is not necessary to
> lower the pitch using this method. The grand piano  that has been in a
> fire....be very...very careful....maybe too much steam...smoke
> acidic....can get into a lot of trouble,
>
> Tommy Black
> Birmingham, Ala.

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