I did not see bugs. I don't know anything else that could have done the damage. James Grebe R.P.T. from St. Louis pianoman@inlink.com "I am only as good as my last tuning" ---------- > From: Danny Moore <danmoore@ih2000.net> > To: pianotech@ptg.org > Subject: Re: new one reply > Date: Saturday, December 20, 1997 2:36 AM > > Er, James, just how big would you say these bugs are? > > Danny Moore > > pianoman wrote: > > > Actually there is too much wood missing to use wood restorer. Needed is > > complete filler blocks replaced and what ever else they call those supports > > back there. > > It really gives you a creepy feeling and makes you hope you are not > > carrying any of those bugs home. > > James Grebe > > R.P.T. from St. Louis > > pianoman@inlink.com > > "I am only as good as my last tuning" > > > > ---------- > > > From: Lance Lafargue <lafargue@iAmerica.net> > > > To: pianotech@ptg.org > > > Subject: Re: new one > > > Date: Friday, December 19, 1997 7:23 AM > > > > > > James, > > > You're only as good as your last estimate, and it sounds like it was a > > good > > > one. Man! Sounds scary. I wouldn't think that piano wood (HA!) hold a > > > tuning for long. I wood be curious who tuned it last and if it is likely > > > that they tuned it to 440, or the low pitch is due to their cutting > > corners > > > five years ago. If the back is separated, it is likely the bugs. It > > sounds > > > like this wood be an excellent opportunity to experiment with that "Wood > > > Restorer" product. > > > Lance Lafargue, RPT > > > New Orleans Chapter > > > Covington, LA. > > > lafargue@iamerica.net > > > > > > ---------- > > > > From: pianoman <pianoman@inlink.com> > > > > To: pianotech@ptg.org > > > > Subject: new one > > > > Date: Thursday, December 18, 1997 5:21 PM > > > > > > > > Today I ran across something I have never seen before. This fellow > > > called > > > > me up for a tuning appointment for his Baldwin console. It had been > > > about > > > > 5 years since last tuned and he said he thought he had a bug problem as > > > > something had eaten through the protective felt covering over the > > > pinblock. > > > > When I got there this morning and opened the lid, WOW. There was one > > > place > > > > about 4 inches in diameter eaten through down into the wood in back of > > > the > > > > pinblock and directly above that into the bottom surface of the lid. I > > > > told him that the felt covering should be removed so we could see the > > > > extent of the damage. He tore it off and all along the top were gaping > > > > holes and the space between the back post ends were hollow from being > > > eaten > > > > away. In addition, I guess because the filler block had been eaten > > away > > > > the pinblock was separated from the back about 1/8" or so . The > > dampers > > > > were not raising from the strings properly and the pitch was over -120c > > > > flat in the middle and worse towards the treble end. I told him that > > the > > > > normal fix was to pull the front to the back with clamps and put in lag > > > > screws gluing everything back together but the problem was that there > > is > > > > nothing to glue the pinblock back to. Strangely enough there was no > > > other > > > > damage over the rest of the piano inside or out. I don't know enough > > > about > > > > termites but it would seem that they would be damaging something else > > > close > > > > by. He said the piano had been in the same place for over 10 years. I > > > > advised that he call an exterminator to check out the damage and to see > > > if > > > > he could recognize the perpetrator. The eaten away part was a drab > > gray > > > > flaky color. I advised also to check with his insurance to see if he > > had > > > > any coverage due to insect damage and wrote on his receipt that I > > thought > > > > the piano was a total loss and see if that would get him anywhere. > > > > Remember this is not in the tropics where this may be common, it is the > > > St. > > > > Louis suburbs not far from where I live. > > > > Do you think I gave the right advice? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > James Grebe > > > > R.P.T. from St. Louis > > > > pianoman@inlink.com > > > > "I am only as good as my last tuning" > > >
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