Epoxy Pinblock Repair

[Avery Todd]

Dick (?), Ron & others,

   Here's a copy of a post I saved from last September from Willem Blees
which might be an alternative method. It'll save searching in the archives.
:-)

Avery

>Date: Fri, 13 Sep 1996 18:42:18 -0400
>From: Wimblees@aol.com
>Subject: mortised in pin block  was Re: 1914 WEBER PINBLOCK
>Sender: owner-pianotech@byu.edu
>
>There are three methods you might try, other than replacing the whole block.
>
>1. Inspect the block in each of the pin webbing area. If the area is bad
>enough, like the cracks are all the way through the block, or there is other
>damage to the pin block, cut out that webbing area, and make a new pin block
>for that section, and glue it in, using epoxy. To make sure is is a tight
>fit, angle the cuts like a trapazoid.
>
>2. If the cracks do not go all the way through the block, rout out about 1
>inch of pin block material in the webbing area you are working on, and then
>make a new plank to fit in there. This is a little more trickier, because now
>you have to match up the pin holes.
>(these two methods require a lot of patience, and some good wood working
>skills.)
>
>3. The last method I tried on an older Weber grand and it works. I shored up
>the bottom of the pin block with a plank, with felt and wax paper between the
>plank and the pin block. I then filled all the holes half way with an impact
>resin epoxy, the type you use on boats. I then drove 2 OO tuning pins in all
>the holes. I let the epoxy dry for 1 week, took out all the pins, and strung
>the piano with 3 OOO pins. I did this 5 years ago, and the piano is doing
>fine. (I had to clamp the pin block in several areas, because of
>delamination, but it worked).
>
>I use this impact resin for small pin block repairs, when the customer
>doesn't want to spend the money to replace a whole block. I don't guarantee
>the rest of the pin block when I do this patch up work, but it gives another
>couple of years to an otherwise useless piano.
>
>Willem Blees RPT

_____________________________________
Avery Todd, RPT
Moores School of Music
University of Houston
713-743-3226
atodd@uh.edu
_____________________________________