Bridge over troubled waters

[Ron Nossaman]

>On a several restring jobs on older pianos of lower quality (budget
>refurbish/rebuilds), I have used new copper bridge pins that were the same
>size as the originals - and of course, some went into their respective holes
>loose. I set the pins in unthickened West System epoxy with excellent
>results - really cleaned up false beats, etc (also planed & renotched caps).
>Note that I am not suggesting I think this is a good course of action on a
>better piano where the owner is willing to pay for premium work.

There are a darned site more potentially fine quality pianos that get 
similar or much less (or worse) than are done with new caps, etc.


>On new bridges I use horizontally-laminated hard-maple caps. I drill for new
>coppered bridge pins in the normal manner, but I swab the holes with
>unthickened West System epoxy and dip the pin in epoxy upon installation.
>Overkill? Maybe, but I don't want my bridges & bridge pins suffering the
>same fate I see in most pianos after a few decades - or maybe just years
>(cracked caps and loose pins). Does it hurt anything? I don't think so -
>except perhaps my sort-term profit margin.
>
>Terry Farrell

Me too. Makes a heck of a nice bridge, and hopefully one that will stay 
nice for a very long time.

Ron N