I would recap the bass bridge (or both bridges if they both look like this). Even with the plate in the piano you can recap the bass bridge, though it's a bit more difficult. If the plate is coming out of the piano I would definitely recap the bridge. Otherwise, the small hairline cracks are probably of little consequence and could be repaired under ordinary circumstances by using methods that have been outlined previously on the list: Remove pins, inject epoxy, and coat bridge top, sand flat, renotch, redrill, insert pins. The larger split you would only attempt to repair in an emergency situation where you had not chance to deal with it by recapping: pull pins, inject epoxy with thickener so it doesn't ooze all over the place, lightly clamp to pull things back together, clean up squeeze out, insert new pins, carefully clean up more squeeze out using a magnifying glass or, if possible, wait and redrill but you will need some way of redefining exactly where the holes will go otherwise you're drilling onto an angled surface which can be tricky. David Love www.davidlovepianos.com From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of paul bruesch Sent: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 3:29 PM To: Pianotech List Subject: [pianotech] Bass bridge repair I have a learning/project piano with bass bridge damage. I've purchased WEST SYSTEM 105 epoxy resin, 206 (slow) hardener, and HD 404 filler. (Primarily in anticipation of future needs, but also to practice on this project piano.) For the tenor end (second pic) I'm planning to follow Terry Farrell's procedure outlined in this post: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/2007-August/209310.html Questions... (1) I understand that epoxy should not be clamped tightly, right? So do I just draw it "most of the way together" with clamps and let it cure with spring clamps, or just use spring clamps? (2) Is it proper to just epoxy the bridge pins in, or do you apply a mold release of some sort? If so, what? (3) Going down the bridge to the left (first pic) there are little splitlets at each speaking-length-side hole. Should I use unthickened epoxy, thin CA, Medium CA, or just leave it?? Thanks! Paul Bruesch Stillwater, MN -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20090531/8a47d64c/attachment-0001.htm>
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