About two weeks ago, someone entered the Choral Room of the university and pulled up on the lid of our LOCKED Yamaha C3 and tore the lock bar off of the fold-over lid. I had bought 8 new screws with the intention of grinding them down figuring that the original #14 x 2.5 inch screws would no longer hold. Then I read Rob Goodale's email about this fix and thought I'd give it a shot. I, too, was a bit skeptical. I stuffed the holes with brown paper toweling, and only having the MEDIUM viscosity CA glue, I poured it into the holes and let it dry overnight. I positioned the lock bar on the lid, and put in the end screws. They had to be tapped LIGHTLY with a hammer to get the threads to start catching and then screwed in perfectly and TIGHTLY. Checking to see that the lock components were aligned correctly, I proceeded to put in the other six screws. Needless to say, my skepticism dissipated and I was amazed at how tight and secure the lock bar repair turned out. Rarely does one need to remove the screws on a lock bar and perhaps, for stripped holes on parts that require frequent removal of screws, another type of fix would be more prudent. As for its longevity, I guess I'll find out the next time somebody tries to force open a locked piano. Kudos to Rob Goodale for a timely and time-saving tip. Anthony Bajada In a message dated 3/27/2009 9:35:12 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, tunerryan at gmail.com writes: The problem with toothpick and similar repairs is that it doesn't distribute the material evenly around the stripped hole. I thought the paper towel idea sounded promising and I too will try it. It would seem that if you make a small tube of the paper and insert it into the hole it will already have a "pilot" hole. I too have used leather successfully and it does make me feel like more of a craftsman for some reason. Maybe its just because its a good "old school" repair. I also tend to lean towards less toxic repairs. So I prefer to use Ballistol or Alcohol/water over Protek (But I still find myself still using it) for freeing up action centers, and aliphatic resin glue over CA glue. I've often thought that there is a good analogy between drugs and certain chemicals used by piano technicians. They are quick fixes and are highly addictive, but may not have have long term benefit. We may find that all the actions Proteked (a new verb!) in the 90's will start seizing up in the next decade. We don't really know the long term affect of these modern products. On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 5:17 AM, Tom Driscoll <_tomtuner at verizon.net_ (mailto:tomtuner at verizon.net) > wrote: Kerry, I have no idea. A fellow listee made the suggestion a few days ago and I'm willing to give it a try. Best, Tom Driscoll; ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kerry Kean" <_kkean at neo.rr.com_ (mailto:kkean at neo.rr.com) > To: <_pianotech at ptg.org_ (mailto:pianotech at ptg.org) > Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 8:14 AM Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fixing stripped screws Reservations about the longevity of glue-soaked paper aside, if you stuff the hole full and then harden it, wouldn’t you then have to create some kind of pilot hole? If you can just shove the screw in and start it, what does that say about the firmness of the repair? Kerry Kean Kent, Ohio ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- From: Tom Driscoll [mailto:_tomtuner at verizon.net_ (mailto:tomtuner at verizon.net) ] Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 10:09 AM To: _pianotech at ptg.org_ (mailto:pianotech at ptg.org) Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fixing stripped screws List,. I'm on board with Jons suggestion. Who hasn't removed a screw thats been repaired with toothpicks or whatever and had a pile of splinters and saw dust come out. The late Journal editor Don Galt suggested in the journal the leather-tightbond method about 30 years ago and it has worked for me. I will try the paper towel -CA suggestion at my next opportunity. Tom -ready to try new things-Driscoll ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - _www.avg.com_ (http://www.avg.com/) Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.11.29/2024 - Release Date: 03/26/09 07:12:00 -- Ryan Sowers, RPT Puget Sound Chapter Olympia, WA _www.pianova.net_ (http://www.pianova.net/) **************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make meals for Under $10. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000002) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090328/90f6c695/attachment-0001.html>
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