[pianotech] Pinblock Separation

[Encore Pianos]

I would use an industrial grade epoxy like West Systems for this repair.  For a variety of reasons, not every crack can be pulled  all the way shut, despite your best efforts at clamping, bolts, etc.  The epoxy will fill any remaining voids with strength and give you a better chance to achieve a lasting repair.  

Even so, given the size of the crack your describe, I would tell the customer that I cannot guarantee this repair, and the price will be the same whether it succeeds or fails.  Part of the problem is that we can only repair that which we have access to.  

The manufacturer is wrong.  Even if the tuning pins are tight, the back is very unstable because it is no longer integrated with the pinblock.  You may find that the tuning will wander such that you will not be able to complete a successful tuning.  

Will Truitt

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Paul McCloud
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2013 7:45 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Pinblock Separation

Hi, Wesley:
This advice doesn't seem right.  Kimball is out of business.  Who is this manufacturer?  
A hairline crack, maybe.  Not a large one.  Wim's advice is good, except I would pull the crack closed with clamps after filling the crack with glue.  Drill out the holes after that.  If you don't, wood chips will fall into the crack as you drill the holes and prevent the separation from closing.  The piano will require several tunings thereafter to stabilize.  Whether the piano is worth the trouble, well you'll have to think on that.
Good luck.
Paul McCloud
San Diego

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Hardman" <hardmanwesley84 at gmail.com>
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2013 6:34:33 AM
Subject: [pianotech] Pinblock Separation



The piano is a Kimball studio. The pinblock has separated from the frame with a huge, visible crack from one end to the other.. A highly reputable manufacturer says this separation will not affect the ability of the piano to hold a tune and is only cosmetic and could be filled with a filler of some kind and then sanded down. What is your take on this? 

Wesley Hardman, RPT 
Scottsboro, Alabama