Gluing sound board cracks back to ribs.

[DGPEAKE@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 2/12/00 8:23:28 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
remoody@midstatesd.net writes:

<< The problem is a cracked soundboard, and one side of the crack has
 pulled away from the rib about as far as to slip a business card
 through if it were cut in half.    This is in a full sized upright,
 player piano actually.  I must make any repair from the rib side.  
  
    The repair I am most familiar is drilling a pilot hole through the
 rib and SB, then drilling a body hole through the rib, stopping the
 bit with ground down hack saw blade, or old palette knife. Then
 smearing glue into the crack with the thin blade and running the
 screw in. 
    Schaff (new catalog) offers a "sound board toggle" p 82.    Do I
 understand  these are left in the piano after the repair is
 completed?  Or is there a way to remove them and fill the access
 hole with a dowel? On p. 62 is a "soundboard repair clamp".  (wire,
 locking nut and wingnut) But this looks like one must have access
 to both sides of the soundboard.  Is this correct?   Both of these
 appeal to me because it looks like they can draw the seperation
 together with more strength than a screw through a 1/4 inch of
 spruce.  
    If any one has used these repairs and can advise, I would be most
 grateful.  Or perhaps there is something out there I am not aware

 of.   I know of the repair in Reblitz using thin bolts and washers
 but  that needs access to both sides which I do not have. On p.
 128, illus. 7-14 is the exact problem I am facing. One side of the
 crack has curled away, the other seems intact.  Should I screw down
 the other side to be safe?  ---ric 
 >>

Soundboard toggles work but not in all circumstances where the bridge may be 
in the way. So be careful not to drill through the bridge.  They only act as 
a clamp so remove them and plug with dowel material. To remove them, loosen 
the nut enough to push the toggle through. Go to the other side of the piano 
and flip the toggle linear with the bolt and push it though.  Then pull the 
toggle out from the other side.  Don't forget to slap some glue between the 
soundboard and the rib before clamping.

If bridge is in the way, look for ideas to install wedges between the 
backpost and rib. Sometimes drilling and installing a screw will work.  
Remove the screw when glue is dry.

Hope this helps.

Dave Peake, RPT
Portland Chapter
Oregon City, OR