Was it something I said?

[Farrell]

I have not used epoxy for a shim/crack repair in a soundboard, I have always
shimmed. I use epoxy for many applications, including many piano
applications. I highly recommend West System epoxy and their specialty
fillers (thickening agents). I suggest calling Gougeon Brothers (makers of
West System epoxy) in Michigan and describe your application and get their
recommendation for appropriate filler. I should thing you are looking for
excellent gap filling properties, good adhesion to spruce, and a very high
viscosity. I guarantee (or something very close to it) they will give you
very good advice.

However, IMHO, shimming works great if the board is dried appropriately, and
it looks so much better, especially on a wide crack!  :-)

http://www.westsystem.com/

Business Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm ET

 Gougeon Brothers, Inc.
100 Patterson Ave.
P.O. Box 908
Bay City, MI 48707-0908

517-684-7286 / Fax 517-684-1374

Order Department: 517-684-6881 / Fax 517-684-1374

Technical Services: 517-684-7286 / Fax 517-684-1287

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ted Simmons" <ted@yourlink.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 7:52 PM
Subject: Re: Was it something I said?


> Jon,
> Do you mix the epoxy with sawdust or use it as is?  I've got a soundboard
> crack job coming up, so I'd like to know the details.
>
> Ted Simmons
>
> I now perfer to use
> > epoxy to fill the void if necessary. Epoxy fills I have done twenty
years ago
> > are still good while shims have cracked.
> >
> > Reagrds,
> >
> > Jon Page
> >
> >
> >
> >> From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
> >> To: "Pianotech, forum" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 11:31 PM
> >> Subject: Was it something I said?
> >>
> >>
> >>> Greetings fellow listees,
> >>> About  a week agao I post this message and only had two people
> >>> respond. I really could use some more opinions so I'll try posting
this
> >>> again. Please take a moment to respond. I really could use your
advice!
> >>>
> >>> Greg
> >>>
> >>> Greetings folks,
> >>>> I need the advice of you treasured people who are so kind to find
> >>>> the time to teach those clueless people like myself.
> >>>> I took in a piano for a customer who was having a property of
> >>> theirs
> >>>> demolished and needed to get the piano out in a hurry. She is having
> >>> and
> >>>> A.B.Chase (early 20's vintage) refinished, restrung, and action
> >>>> overhauled for her family. I have had this piano in my home for about
> >>>> three months acting as a big surface upon which to gather many many
> >>>> useless items. I recently was preparing to begin the restringing
> >>> process
> >>>> and took down the tension on all the strings and removed the bass
> >>>> strings. I plan to have Newton redesign the scale for this while ,
> >>>> hopefully teaching me how to do it for future piano I may inflict my
> >>>> talents upon. Since I took down the tension about a week ago I found
> >>>> something rather startling. What began as one very shim able but not
> >>> yet
> >>>> seperated crack in the board has now become 6 or more two of which
> >>> have
> >>>> separated from the ribs at spots and are wide enough to see daylight
> >>>> through. I would call the main crack to be about thick enough to slip
> >>> a
> >>>> thin guitar pick through. This particular one has the wood being
> >>> uneven
> >>>> on both side of the crack indicating it's separation from the ribs.
> >>>> Naturally this big one is right through the center of the board.
> >>>> I'd like the opinion of this list as to whether these cracks can
> >>> or
> >>>> should be repaired or is it time for another board? I've never left
> >>>> tension off a piano for this long before. Did I do a no no? If it is
> >>>> your opinion that a new board and bridges are necessary then how
would
> >>>
> >>>> you go about telling the customer of this added cost? Do you know
> >>> anyone
> >>>> in the Cleveland, OH area of perhaps PA area that you can recommend
to
> >>>
> >>>> install a new board and do a job I could be proud to offer? Are there
> >>>> any pitfalls along the way I should look out for? What could I expect
> >>> to
> >>>> pay for a board and bridges?
> >>>> I've only subcontracted once before and I got bit really bad that
> >>>> time so I'm really gun shy. Thank you for the time and effort to
> >>>> respond. I hope the coming days, months, and years bring you all
> >>>> continued growth and prosperity.
> >>>>
> >>>> Greg
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Greg Newell
> >>> Greg's Piano Forté
> >>> 19270 Harlon Ave.
> >>> Lakewood, Ohio 44107
> >>> 216-226-3791
> >>> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
> >>>
> >>>
> >
> > Jon Page,   piano technician
> > Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.
> > mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> >
>