Super glue to fill gaps

[Brian Trout]

Hi Lance,

Depending upon the bridge, it may do just fine.

If only one end of the bridge was loose, then only one end got reglued.  I
suppose that it would still be possible for the other end to come unglued,
but there's no sense loosing sleep over that one.  It hasn't happened yet,
and may never.

I like your idea of putting a screw in to hold the thing in place.  I do put
screws in most of my bass bridge duplications, mostly for ease, speed and
alignment in gluing the thing together.  (I put them in from the bottom
(under side, or back side) when the bridge and apron are out of the piano,
so they're not visible after installation.)  I've never done one from the
top (front) like you did, but I see no problem with it as you describe.  I'd
probably be most worried about the CA on the screw coming loose from the
screw and over time buzzing between the head of the screw, the sides of the
hole and the bottom of the string!  (But, no sense borrowing tomorrow's
troubles.  Probably never happen.) :-)

As for using CA glue for a repair like this, I tend to think I would have
used a glue like Titebond, or perhaps epoxy.  (I'm looking into epoxy.  I
haven't used it, but it seems to be getting some pretty good reviews by
those who are using it.)   Generally, my experience with CA leads me to
believe that it holds good initially, but it does become very hard and
brittle when it cures, and I've had some repairs where the glue 'shattered'
and the repair failed.  It may have been my fault for not using it right. ?
I'm open to instruction/criticism.

Overall, if it worked and it continues to hold and do what the repair was
intended to do, I'd say "you done good".  We do what we can with what we
have in the time we have to do it in, and most of the time, life works out
just fine.  ( There's a mouthful for ya!)  :-)

Just some random thoughts in passing.

Best wishes,

Brian Trout
Quarryville, Pa.
btrout@desupernet.net

-----Original Message-----
From: lance lafargue <lafargue@iamerica.net>
To: Pianotech Listserve <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 6:16 PM
Subject: Super glue to fill gaps


>I was wondering how others felt about superglue as a gap filler on this
>repair.  I did a bridge repair a couple of months ago.  The bridge had come
>unglued from the apron.  I got glue into the bridge/apron joint, then
>countersunk a screw to hold it with the head about 1/16" below the surface
>of the bridge top.  I had no epoxy on hand and not enough room for a dowel,
>so I filled the space above the screw head with superglue since some string
>would pass over the space and I wanted it to be hidden.  I sanded it flat,
>graphited, burnished, and restrung.  How do you think this use of superglue
>might work over time?  Should I do it again?  It was rock hard, I couldn't
>seem to chip it and it looked pretty good.  Thanks.
>
>LANCE LAFARGUE, RPT
>LAFARGUE PIANO SERVICES
>New Orleans Chapter
>Mandeville, LA.
>_________________________________
>II III II III II III II III II III II III II III II III II III II
>-----------------------------------------------------------
>lafargue@iamerica.net
>
>"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to
>make them all yourself."
>