rim separations & beam cracks

[David Ilvedson]

We all need to be carrying cameras with us...a picture of the "gaps/cracks" would tell us a lot.   

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "J Patrick Draine" <jpdraine at gmail.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 1/13/2007 1:19:20 PM
Subject: rim separations & beam cracks


> This morning I went out to tune a Steinway A, recently purchased
>several months ago at a major S&S dealership's "major concert venue
>special sales event". While originally manufactured in 1908, It had
>recently been fully rebuilt (new soundboard etc.). Anyway, I found a
>few hairline cracks in the lid as I was tuning it, and then as I was
>under the piano, starting to install a Dampp-Chaser system, I noticed
>a crack in one of the beams, and gaps/cracks in the rim. As I was just
>about to put some screws to secure the fill tube in the immediate
>vicinity of said cracks I decided to retreat from the installation,
>and inform the prevously blissful customer of my findings.
>I really don't know what level of implied or spelled out warranty the
>customer may have in this situation. It's certainly possible that
>these gaps & cracks will be/are stable, but I prefer to be cautious
>rather than blindly optimistic. The customer isn't a panicky type;
>she's on good terms with the sales person & I helped her compose an
>e-mail to the sales person informing the dealer of the situation.
>It seems to me an EZ but entirely stable repair would be for the
>dealer to take it back to the shop, flip the piano over, and fill the
>rim & beam cracks with low viscosity epoxy. I suppose a low viscosity
>glue can fix the cracks in the lid, too, followed by a couple more
>coats of ebony lacquer.
>Question to the rebuilder/remanufacturers/dealers out there: wouldn't
>you address these issues even if you're selling it as a used (at said
>concert & teaching complex) rebuilt piano?
>Put another way, am I being too "sensitive" in expecting some effort
>in filling the gaps in the rim in a structurally sound manner?
>Patrick Draine