Bechstein plate cracks

[antares]

I have a lot of experience with this issue.
I can not do the welding myself but instead had it done in the past. There is
also a technique of putting a cram in the crack. for more info about this last
method asl colleague A. Duin (aduin@euronet.nl)
When welding the plate, have them add a piece of iron under the crack. To make
room for this, you have to make place for it in the pinblock.
I have had numerous cracked Bechstein plates over the past  decades, none of
them ever re-opened.

Friendly greetings
from
André Oorebeek

>>Douglas K. Rhodes wrote:

> I am researching repair feasability for an 1891 Bechstein 6' 8" grand that
> has three cracks in the plate. It is one of at least three Bechstein grands
> with cracked plates in this region (Vancouver Island, British Columbia,
> Canada). The series of articles on this subject in the Piano Technicians
> Journals (Dec 1996, Feb & Mar 1997) by Bob Hohf, RPT, were thoughtful and
> informative. However, I am not entirely convinced that Bob's analysis of
> the cause of the cracks is correct, and my initial consultations with a
> highly qualified mechanical engineer suggest that so-called cold-welding of
> the cracks will almost certainly guarantee future failure.
>
> Are there any of you out there who have tackled the Bechstein
> plate/pinblock problem? Are there any who would like to help me open the
> can of worms regarding cold-welding vs. pre-heating/oxyacetylene welding,
> etc.? I'd appreciate any comments.
>
> Doug Rhodes, RPT
> Victoria, BC
> Canada