Bridge Recap Time

[Farrell]

> Better?

You Bet! I'm ready & rarin' to go now! Thank you so much your Bridgeness!

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Nossaman" <RNossaman@KSCABLE.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2001 10:43 PM
Subject: Re: Bridge Recap Time


> >> 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
>