To hot-glue a modern soundboard in a one-person shop would be quite a trick - although I guess the distance around the surfaces of contact is probably not much different for a big fortepiano. Doing my big 1816 6 1/2 oct ones I use 'go-bars'. You need a low shop cieling or to make a 'deck' i.e. dropped cieling over the instrument. I make flexible wood strips at the 4 1/2 ft or so length I need (1/4" by 3/4" pine or other scrap) about 30 of them - and do a dry-run, then heat the case surfaces well with an iron, keeping the shop warm. You could pre-size the surfaces of the board where it contacts. Slather on the hot glue on the case rim, maybe go around all with the iron quickly, then pop the board in and jam in the go-bars. With clamping it's a rush too but you need a squad of helpers. With a thin fpo sb you can reheat from the top actually if necessary but I've never had to do this. Margaret
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC