[pianotech] cutting down a MH bridge

[Jim Ialeggio]

On a router table, mount a bearing piloted rabbeting bit. Choose a 
rabbeting bit the depth you want to reduce the bridge width by.

With the rabbeting bit, using the pilot bearing, follow the existing 
bridge body. This will cut a rabbet along the length of the bridge.

Then, using a bearing over flush trimming bit, again on a router table, 
let the bearing follow the rabbet you just cut to trim the rest of the 
bridge body. The flush trimming bit  will reduce the rest of the bridge 
by the width of the rabbet.  I'd band saw close to the finished width, 
using the rabbet as your guide, before doing the final flush trimming.

Don't do any band sawing until you've cut your rabbet because you need 
the existing bridge body to be there as the index for the initial 
rabbeting bit operation.

Jim Ialeggio

-- 
Jim Ialeggio	
jim at grandpianosolutions.com
978 425-9026
Shirley Center, MA