Bridge Recap Time

[Ron Nossaman]

>> I trust that answers your question.
>
>Almost, but not quite. I like your idea of complete replacement. The reason
>I epoxied was that I knew it would work, but I have not recapped a bridge
>yet, and I was darned sure I wasn't going to do my first one in front of a
>client in their home. At least if I can get the task into my shop I can make
>all the reversible errors I may be inclined to make and just do it over, and
>over, and over.

Hi Terry,
Yep, that's the idea if you can get it off.


>The one question. I know how to get a bass bridge off that just falls off.
>And I know how to get a bass bridge off from a soundboard that is going to
>be scrapped. BUT, how do you go about removing a bass bridge that is
>well-attached without wrecking the board or bridge or apron? AND do you
>generally remove the apron from the board, or the bridge from the apron -
>assuming you are not working on one of Del's designs. Oh, please enlighten
>me.

Ok, first a little clarification. There are somewhat different concerns for
verticals than for grands for an in home fix. With a grand, I'd epoxy if
the bridge wasn't already reduced to crumbs by migrating pins. Second
choice would be to crawl underneath and  remove any screws holding the
bridge on. Then, I'd test the joint between the apron and base plate.  If I
could separate that apron/base plate joint with some wedging and prying,
I'd haul off the corpus bridgi and go make a new one in the shop. If I
couldn't get it off easily, or it's not cantilevered, I'd fall back on
capping in place - with the price going up accordingly to compensate for
the multiple trips, half ton of hardware to transport, cleanup time, and
pointed sticks to keep passing traffic at bay through the process.  

With a vertical, I'd epoxy if... etc, just like the grand. Second choice
would also be removing screws and trying to get the apron loose from the
base plate. You will likely have to drill 1/2" holes through a post or two
to get the screws out, but you're there to make noise and scare people so
don't look at all concerned when you do it. Now, to the bridge. In a
vertical, you have the luxury of being able to get away with doing
considerably more cosmetic damage than would be tolerated in the grand.
Proceed cautiously, and alternately from as many different directions as
you can reach until you start loosening something. Even if you bring a
little soundboard with you as a last resort (carefully!), you can probably
get the old bridge out. Note that the bridge body is screwed to the apron
from underneath. This is why you don't attempt to chisel and pry them apart
in the piano. If the old apron is intact, re-use it with a new bridge body.
If there wasn't a separate base plate, or the joint at the soundboard panel
gave up first, the panel chunks adhering to the bottom will (with a little
edge and end cleanup) key right back into the panel upon reinstallation.
Plenty of Titebond and the appropriate screws will get you back into
immediate service.

Better?

Ron N