Soundboard repair

[Mike and Jane Spalding]

Tommy,

Expoxy is good, but sawdust is not necessarily the best filler.  West
Systems epoxy with the "slow" hardener (available from Pianotek) does a good
job of penetrating the wood grain and bonding.  West also has several
fillers, which will keep the resin from flowing away without inhibiting it's
penetrating ability.  With the right mixture of "filleting blend", which is
brown, and "microlight filleting filler", which is cream colored, plus a
little powdered yellow chalk, you can get pretty close to soundboard color.
Use a heat gun to help it soak in, the warmth will also help eliminate
bubbles.  It sands pretty nicely, but because it is harder than the
surrounding wood, you want to use a flat hard sanding block.  It will cost
$60 or so to get set up with this stuff, but you'll be amazed at how many
good uses you'll find for it in the rebuilding process.  Good luck.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: <Bigeartb@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 11:13 PM
Subject: Soundboard repair


> Gentlemen:
> Rebuilding old grand piano. Question.....must repair three "cross grain"
> severe indentations in soundboard caused by three toggle bolts placed
along a
> crack in soundboard . Will plug holes caused by the toggle bolt
> itself....will shim crack but will a mixture of epoxy and sawdust repair
the
> "cross grain" indentations. If not, what are your suggestions. I am
> attempting to straighten up a mess made by what appears to be a
> "jack-legged"....'pianerrrr' tuner . Will epoxy stand up to the vibration
of
> the board? Can it be sanded? The indentations are approx. 3/4" long and
there
> are three of them. Would appreciate any suggestions.
>
> Thank you
> TommyBlack
> Decatur, Ala.
>
>