Was shim pins/now crack options

[Farrell]

Hi Wim. I have plugged several pin blocks with the plate out. I use 1/2-inch plugs. I have not done one with the plate in. However, I have heard a number of stories claiming success - and its not all that different with the plate in. My understanding is for a case like this you use a plug the size of the hole in the plate or smaller. Drill out the bushing with a 7/16" or 13/32" drill and stick the biggest plug you can in there. I'm told a 3/8" plug will work fine in a case like this. If you prefer, use a 3/8" drill bit or just a tad larger - a lot of that depends on what kind of glue you will be using. For this type of repair I would recommend a close fit and Titebond. But if you like epoxy - use a looser fit and go for it! I use a very loose fit and epoxy in my plate-out jobs. If the piano is too cruddy to put a new pinblock in, I would not worry too much about drilling out the plate a tad. The cast iron drills real easy - not really any harder than the maple block.
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Wimblees@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 6:46 PM
Subject: Re: Was shim pins/now crack options


> In a message dated 2/18/02 5:09:40 PM Central Standard Time, 
> mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com writes:
> 
> 
> > If there are cracks and it appears a shim may not hold well, perhaps the 
> > thing to consider is a plug and drill for the original size pin. Not really 
> > very difficult to do at all and very long lasting.
> > 
> > Terry Farrell
> > 
> Terry
> 
> Plugs are good if the plate has been removed.  The repair we are talking 
> about is with the plate still in the piano. Even if there is a plate bushing, 
> the diameter of the plug will not be big enough to then also drill a hole for 
> the tuning pin, (unless you first drill out the plate and that will be even 
> more work, and is not warranted for this kind of repair.)
> 
> Wim
>