CA'ing pins

[Ron & Lorene Shiflet]

I posted to the list about a year ago asking about CA glue on pins.  I had 
about 20 positive replies from technicians and about 2 negative.  I've used 
the CA glue method on about 20 pianos in the last year.  Here's my 
experience.

*I haul the piano to my shop, tip it over on its back with a tilt truck, 
usually drive the pins in (but not always), apply CA glue carefully around 
the holes, then apply accelerator.  CA glue just doesn't seem to bond with 
wood otherwise.
* I'm ready to start the pitch raise/tunings instantly.  There is no 
waiting.
*If the tuning pins are really loose, the dampers can be 
misleading...meaning, since the piano wasn't up to pitch, poor damping may 
not be present but after you get the piano holding at the higher tension, 
the increase in string tension, can cause the dampers to not damper 
properly.  It's good practice to try and factor that into your estimate.
*  I end up doing at least 1 piano a month, but often times 2.
*  When you have a techy-type customer, he/she may bombard you with 
questions such as will it be so tight, the pins will break...the glue cannot 
go that far down into the hole, etc.
*This job can be a pretty good money maker when you factor the pitch raise 
and about 3-5 tunings.  Again, it boils down to educating your customer. 
They need to know what they are paying for (4 tunings getting it back to 
pitch).  They also need to know that they need to retune it in 3-6 months 
because it will adjust to being back at pitch, especially if you drove the 
pins in.
* I have never seen a case where a glycerin/denatured alcohol treatment 
worked.
* I have never seen a case where a properly installed climate control system 
corrected loose pins.
*  It seems that loose pins are a way of life in Arizona.   We usually have 
about 5% humidity or less here.  I'm sure others have had sucess in 
different climates, but this has been my experience.

regards

Ron