bridge top finish

[Overs Pianos]

Hello Bob, David and Dale etc,

>I know some rebuilders are leaving the dag off of the
>bridge tops.

Yes we do, and have been for quite a few years. The piano we're 
bringing to Rochester has a lacquer only finish on the bridge, with 
bridge pins which are electroless nickel plated with 2 thou of 
hardened plating.

>Do you coat the top with some kind of
>finish to slow down moisture transfer or just for
>looks?

We've been spraying the bridge with the same number of coats and 
material as we use for the soundboard panel. We've been using acid 
cat lacquer which is quite brittle, but that's good for tone.

>   I have normally sprayed the bridge sides and
>notches as I finished the soundboard and kept the
>bridge cap taped off.
>
>
>I'm wondering how well a finish will hold up under the
>pressure of the strings.  Some finishes, like lacquer,
>it seems, might crack.   - Didn't have to consider
>that with Dag.

True. But I don't like Dag at all. I suspect that it might be 
responsible for some bridge caps deteriorating from being overheated 
(when in the presence of direct sunlight or stage lights). We're 
planning to lacquer and pin the bridges for our next piano before 
fitting them to the board. We set our downbearing before the bridge 
and board are fitted to the case, so this will allow us to pre-finish 
the bridges. Since maple coats very easily with a minimum of coats, 
we can finish the bridges with less coats when compared to the panel. 
This will minimise any tendency for the bridge finish to crack.

Just finishing the stringing of piano no. 6 today. We're behind 
schedule a bit. Got to get the hammers hung and dampers in by next 
Tuesday (our local techs are coming around for a viewing, so we've 
got to have it playing). Rochester is getting too close. I'll look 
forward to it once I've got the piano crated and in transit. Tomorrow 
is hammer boring and hanging day.

Ron O.
-- 
OVERS PIANOS - SYDNEY
    Grand Piano Manufacturers
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Web http://overspianos.com.au
mailto:ron at overspianos.com.au
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