Hello list. I need some advice on an unusual (for me) repair. New customer called about a piano that came with the house they just purchased. It is a 1954 Wurlitzer spinet with naugahyde top and sides. The case sides are two parts: a short vertical side from floor to the bottom of the keydesk, and horizontal sides from the keydesk to the top and from the back to the front of the keyslip. The glue joints on both of the upper, horizontal sides have separated from the back frame. The entire keyboard and action are floating, resting on top of the lower sides, which appear to remain solidly glued, and the spindly little spinet legs in front. We discovered the problems when we tried to move the piano away from the wall, but only the top half moved. My first reaction was to send it to the dump. But closer inspection revealed a very clean instrument, with excellent pinblock and bridge condition, clean felt, and excellent case appearance. The only thing wrong with it is the case separation. I have read discussions in the archives about spreading the sides, inserting epoxy, and using pipe clamps to reattach the sides to the back. I think folks have also used pipe clamps across the front to keep the sides parallel. Do I need to worry about this if the keydesk is still holding the sides together in front? I intend to bid doing the work in the client's home, since the cost of a move to/from my shop would probably exceed the value of the instrument, combined with the actual repair. Please help me with my check list: 1. Gather long clamps and other heavy duty tools, work table, (tilter?) 2. Spread double layer dropcloth (fabric over plastic) to catch excess epoxy. 3. Remove action, any removable case parts. Keys. Keyframe? 4. Slide sides and keydesk forward, away from remainder of piano and sand off old glue from sides and back. 5. Paint on very thin epoxy to both surfaces, letting it soak in. 6. Slide the sides back on and squeeze in thick epoxy pastry-bag style? Push it in with a thin blade? Other? 7. Pad the naugahyde sides with 2x4 blocks and clamp across the back with three or four pipe clamps. 8. Clean up and leave. 9. Come back next day and remove clamps, reinstall action, basic regulation as needed. Did I forget anything? Do I need deep-reach pipe clamps? Should I use wedge-shaped 2x4 blocks to compensate for pipe clamp arching? Are 3/4 inch pipe clamps sufficient? Am I nuts for even thinking about it, or is this "something we do every day, ma'am"? 8 hours total? 4? 16? Any tricks for alignment? Thanks, Greg Graham Graham Piano Service Brodheadsville, PA __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
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