Suggestions Wanted For Soundboard Repair

[Lynn Rosenberg]

I remember when my instructor repaired a sound board on an old Everett
upright, piano was made in 1882, he used quarter inch pan head screws, to
help secure it to the rim.  He countersunk the holes, and left them in, and
of course used glue also.  The board doesn't vibrate at the rim, it is just
secured they're so he left them.  Never saw the finished piano but it turned
out good.  I never had a piano where the the sound board was loose from the
rim to repair yet, but I know of a few, that I would if I got them.  Lynn
Rosenberg

----- Original Message -----
From: Glenn Grafton <gleng@fast.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 11:03 AM
Subject: Suggestions Wanted For Soundboard Repair


> We have a grand that we're in the process of rebuilding-an average calibre
> make.
>
> It's been refinished, getting a new pin block, etc. Soundboard is being
> shimmed and has enough bearing.
>
> The glue joint of the soundboard to the liner is loose in a few places-you
> can hear it by tapping around the perimiter of the soundboard.
>
> The question is:
> What are some suggestions on how to best re-glue the loose sections before
> the plate goes back in?
>
> Our technician working on it feels that just getting some glue in there
and
> clamping it is not the best since there is old hide glue in there already
> and the old glue will prevent a good bond with the new glue.
>
> I had a similar problem before with a vertical piano and solved it the
> following way:
> Cleaned out the glue joint where it was loose by working a ground down
hack
> saw blade in the glue joint. This cleaned out the old glue.
> Worked glue into the section, with the help of gravity (actually since the
> piano was in our shop we suspended the piano upside down with a lift we
> have as the joint in question was at the top).
> Clamped soundboard to liner.
>
> It's a little bit harder than that with this piano as it is a grand.
> Getting to the joint where the soundboard is loose is in the back part of
> the piano and has a piece of wood that extends out about 8" above where
the
> rear leg is attatched. Removing that section would make it easier, but
that
> part of wood is glued in and the case has already been refinished.
>
> Any tips appreciated!
>
> Glenn Grafton
> Grafton Piano & Organ Co.
> Souderton PA
> http://www.dprint.com/grafton/
> gleng@fast.net
> 800-272-5980
>
> The box said "Requires Windows 95, or better." So I bought a Macintosh.
>
>
>