bench repair

[Tom Cole]

This is one of those times where I would take into consideration: how
much is it for a new bench, can you buy a new one in that size, how many
hours will it take to repair/reduce to size (multiplied by two and add
10%), etc., and come up with a fair price. If that means that I'd end up
working for $15 or $20 an hour, then I would chalk the rest up to a
learning experience. You may be stuck with doing it at less than your
ideal hourly rate since you now have it in pieces and the customer
doesn't have the option of taking it elsewhere, assuming that you want
to keep the customer. I would also do the best job possible even if I
had to underestimate it. Next time a job like this comes up, you'll be
able to do it more quickly and you'll have a better idea of what to
charge.

I remember Isaac Sadigursky talking about buying a bunch of piano bench
corner brackets from Kimball (they're larger than most). They can be
used to repair most benches and are much quicker than trying to redowel.
One modification: he flattens the "fingers" that reach down into a saw
kerf near the end of each rail; no new saw kerfs to make - they weaken
the wood and are the reason most of these designs fail. In a bench that
had dowel joined legs, you'll need to install new hanger bolts,
available from hardware store, to draw the legs up tight to the rails.

Happy woodworking.

pianoman wrote:
> 
> Just came up from my shop after prying apart a Starr French pro bench that
> was held together, but still falling apart, by 13 screws and 3 braces in
> the legs and rails along with the 2 dowels in each rail going into each leg
> at 2 sides of each leg.  The client not only wants it repaired but reduced
> in size form 14X30 to 12X27&1/2 so that a needlepoint cushion she has will
> fit.  Eight of the screws are about #10 or #12's about 3" long so there are
> large gapping holes in the square part of the leg also.  I have a feeling
> that I am going to lose my shirt on this one.  It is from sometime in the
> 1940's so the finish is not that great and I am going to have a tough time
> trying to disguise where these hole used to be.  The fact that I am going
> to resize it will help in getting some fresh wood to work with on the
> rails. The top of course will have to be resized also.  I'm trying to come
> up with a plan of action to charge her so I don't lose my shirt.  Oh yes, I
> have the rack also and it is split at the screw holes in the edge.  I am
> going to use epoxy on that.  This is going to be a most interesting
> experience though not a profitable on .  It has taken me about 30 minutes
> to get the whole thing apart so tomorrow I will have to call her with my
> plan of action and estimate.
> I guess I am writing this to vent my brain.
> James Grebe
> R.P.T. from St. Louis
> pianoman@inlink.com
> "Take me through the darkness to the break of the day"
> .-

-- 
Thomas A. Cole RPT
Santa Cruz, CA