Decapping bridges with a router

[Fenton Murray]

Maybe, Gene, but a lot of the experience I've gained has been through 
lessons learned, like, take pictures, take notes, make patterns, save the 
original. Everything seems to be a one off for me, I think I make this work 
too hard.
Fenton
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gene Nelson" <nelsong at intune88.com>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: Decapping bridges with a router


>I assume that as one's rebuilding experience broadens, the need to retain 
>the original cap diminishes?
> Gene
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Fenton Murray" <fmurray at cruzio.com>
> To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 9:26 AM
> Subject: Re: Decapping bridges with a router
>
>
>> That works, I just use key bed shims or veneer when needed so that the 
>> set
>> up can always be quickly returned to a true and square set up. The 
>> elevation
>> is done with the depth of cut on the router.
>> I've thought about something like your describing, Jon, with the router 
>> base
>> being able to slide on the angle cuts of the 2x4s, then you would not 
>> have
>> to worry about only making one pass down the length of the bridge with 
>> the
>> router's track being lower on one side of the bridge, sort of like a 
>> banked
>> turn on a race track. That just got way to complicated for me though.
>> Attached are photos of some sleds on the router this time, but they're
>> cutting down some rib stock, same idea.
>> Fenton
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jon Page" <jonpage at comcast.net>
>> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
>> Sent: Saturday, August 02, 2008 4:39 AM
>> Subject: Decapping bridges with a router
>>
>>
>>> How's this for ideas of how to fabricate the sled.
>>>
>>> Take a suitable length of 2x4.
>>> Determine the slope
>>> Cut the slope across the broad side, then cut in half
>>>
>>> Now you have the sleds for the slope and only need to shim the bottoms
>>> for suitable elevation along the length.
>>>
>>>
>>> Or you could make a platform from plywood. I use this for bass bridges.
>>> Cut a center section out for the bit to extend through.
>>> In mounting blocks that are glued to the underside are screws which act
>>> as adjustable feet. Adjust the height at each end above the bridge
>>> surface.
>>> Make several passes with the router, double checking bridge height from
>>> the board and refine platform height as needed.
>>> -- 
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Jon Page
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>