[pianotech] Pinblocks

[Delwin D Fandrich]

I put a pinblock of this type in the Baldwin Hamilton back in the mid-1980s.
(I wanted to put it in the grands as well but was out-voted. It performed
much better, in my opinion, than the multi-layer granite pinblock Baldwin
was already infamous for; but what did I know?) Anyway, while I was testing
various pinblock configurations I tossed in one that used the regular 5/8"
multi-laminate cap (made with 1/16" veneers) with the rest being of
laminated poplar (1/8" thick, rotary cut). Worked quite nicely. We didn't
use it because we were uncertain how it would age -- it stood up well for a
year but who knows what would have happened in 30 years -- and because
marketing was concerned -- probably for good reason -- about the competition
finding out that Baldwin was using "poplar pinblocks." 

ddf

Delwin D Fandrich
Piano Design & Fabrication
620 South Tower Avenue
Centralia, Washington 98531 USA
del at fandrichpiano.com
ddfandrich at gmail.com
Phone  360.736.7563


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ron Nossaman
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2010 8:03 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pinblocks

On 11/6/2010 9:36 PM, Joseph Garrett wrote:
> Ron,
> I agree that the substrate does not need to be as elegant as that. 
> Nor, is it as critical as the top "layer". However, I do, also, 
> believe that the substrate needs to be of a consistant density, what 
> ever that denisty is. the use of high-grade maple is, IMO, not that
necessary.

Yup, I agree. Pretty much any low density commercially available (or shop
made) block will meet the criteria.