Balance Rail Holes - Worn

[Terry]

I haven't a clue as to what is going on! Somebody dug up a post from me that
is 10 months old.

BTW, I agree with you Mike. I used the Spurlock method and the keys came out
great.

Terry Farrell

Hey this post is year old. What's going on?

kpiano

> 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