In a message dated 5/21/99 6:02:07 AM Pacific Daylight Time, cding@att.com writes: << Hi, everybody. I am new in piano technician team. My first major task is to repair a seriously cracked base bridge of my upright piano. One fourth of the pins are loose. I would like to re-cap the bridge. Firstly, I would like to take the bridge off the sound board. I tried to put vinegar between the bridge and the bridge apron (shelf). However, I failed to dissolve the glue. Does anyone know any more powerful dissolvent? Or do I have to use some special vinegar (I used my cooking vinegar)? Or is there any hidden screw between the bridge and the apron? Then I tried to dissolve the glue between the apron and the sound board. I failed again. Could someone give me some hints on how to take the bridge off? Your help is highly appreciated. Chunping Chances are it was put on with animal hide glue. Mix 1 part wallpaper remover to 1 part H2O and apply on the glue joints. You may want to apply some heat from a heat gun to help soften the glue. Make sure all of the screws are removed. Sometimes part of the soundboard may come with the bridge, but that is not a hard repair, if you do not remove the part off of the bridge. Another alternative is to apply epoxy in the cracks rather than recap. Email me privately and I will tell you how to do it. Dave Peake, RPT Portland Chapter Oregon City, OR
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