Pinblock/Frame Separation

Ward & Probst wardprobst@cst.net
Tue, 25 Jul 2000 18:14:15 -0500


Terry,

John has an excellent point below. We have done a bunch of these over the
years and find the following to give good results:
1) Clean the separation as well as you can. Tools: compressed air and a tool
made of thin metal banding material (sold as soundboard cleaners in the
supply catalogs)
2) Clamp the gap shut with as many pipe clamps as it takes to do the job.
3) Drill 3/8 holes thru plate screw holes with long electricians bit then
blow chips out of holes
4) Release enough tension on the clamps to let the gap open enough to pour
epoxy in the separation then reclamp and let set.
5) Insert carriage bolts from the back of the piano through the plate.
Install washer and nut, trim excess bolt length if necessary.
6) Remove pipe clamps, pitch raise and tune.

Nice to meet you in Arlington!

Best,
Dale
Ward & Probst, Inc.
Piano & Organ Service
Dale Probst & Elizabeth Ward
Registered Piano Technicians
Wichita Falls, TX
wardprobst@cst.net

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf
Of John Dewey
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2000 4:48 PM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: Pinblock/Frame Separation


I would not drill the bolt holes untill I had pulled the pin block back with
pipe clamps (lots of pipe clamps) as far as possible or as far as I intend
it to go. This will prevent the wood chips made while drilling the bolt
holes from falling down in the gap and causing more problems. Once I have
the pin block back in place I have always been able to take off 1 or 2 of
the pipe clamps if they are in the way for drilling without the pin block
moving.

I am not sure, if once you let the tension down some, if letting it down
more wil make tunning any harder so I let it down a lot (half to three
quarter turn) so I know I am not fighting it.

John Dewey



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