Balance Rail Holes - Worn

[MICHAEL MORVAN]

Terry,
    In my opinion, the only way to eliminate all of the problems (fore and 
aft motion, side to side motion, issues of spacing and regulation) 
associated with worn balance holes is to replace them. The keys and keyboard 
are the foundation of all regulation and problems here will multiply further 
on. The method I've found to be the most effective is the Spurlock Method, 
which if you have a copy of his article is actually a method developed by 
David Snyder (RPT PA Chapter). This involves locating the original balance 
hole location, machining out the bad balance hole, replacing the wood with 
an insert, relocating the hole and redrilling. This method returns the keys 
to an original state, but is of course more difficult and time consuming 
than other methods. If the piano warrants this type of time expenditure than 
this is, in my opinion the way to go.  Mike Morvan  Blackstone Valley Piano
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Nereson" <dnereson@4dv.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, February 16, 2005 7:02 AM
Subject: Re: Balance Rail Holes - Worn


> barr8345@bellsouth.net wrote:
>
>>Hi Terry,
>>I have had great success repairing this type of damage using maple veneer. 
>>Mount a balance rail pin in a scrap board, position key upside down and 
>>saw a kerf the thickness of the veneer about 1/4 inch deep using the 
>>balance rail pin as a guide. Glue the veneer in this kerf and you will 
>>have a permanent repair. I can't remember which manufacturer's rep 
>>suggested this repair to me but it does work.
>>
>>Norman Barrett
>>Memphis Chapter
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
>>To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 7:16 PM
>>Subject: Balance Rail Holes - Worn
>>
>>
>>Hello Listees,
>>
>>I'm rastling with the keys and keyframe of an old, well worn, WNG action. 
>>I'm trying to decide what to do with the center keypin key holes. I have 
>>limited, as best, experience repairing key center pin holes. The picture 
>>below shows the worst of the obviously worn keys. I'm just kinda feelin' 
>>that these are past the point of gluing in a shim. Waddaya ya'll think, 
>>and what is the latest and greatest regarding rebuilding a key center rail 
>>pin hole? Thanks.
>>
>>Terry Farrell
>>_______________________________________________
>>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>>
>>
>    I didn't look at the pictures, but my own old upright had extremely 
> worn and over-treated balance pin holes.  They'd been eased, shimmed, 
> sized, poked, elongated, etc.   I almost went the Spurlock route of 
> inserting 1/8" basswood inserts (see May 1990  Journal) but decided I 
> didn't want to do that much work.  So I opted for installing oversize 
> balance rail pins.  I did drill the key holes on the drill press, with the 
> table set at the correct angle, but I was able to just drive the new pins 
> into the existing holes in the balance rail without drilling them out 
> first.  See also Susan Graham's article in Oct 1988 Journal; and for the 
> front pin mortise, Fern Henry's article in the May 1989 Journal.
>    --David Nereson, RPT
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>