My first bit of bad news

[Marcel Carey]

The one thing I don't like with the sheetrock screw, is the weakening of
the ribs. You have to drill 2 holes about 7/32" in each rib along the
crack. What I prefer to do nowdays is just use one small screw and a
piece of flat maple. I drill a very small hole in the rib right on the
crack and then srew my block from the front pushing that soundboard
against the rib. When this is not possible because of the plate being in
the way, I would use a screw right in the crack from behind, leaving a
lot of it protruding in the back, use medium CA glue between the board
and ribs and then just use plyers to pull on the screw toward the ribs
and wait a few seconds for the CA to set. I then remove the screw. This
way at least the ribs won't be weakened (never mind that old uprights'
boards are already flat).

Marcel Carey, RPT
Sherbrooke, QC 

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : pianotech-bounces at ptg.org 
> [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] De la part de Greg Newell
> Envoyé : 15 août 2006 20:50
> À : Pianotech List
> Objet : Re: My first bit of bad news
> 
> 
> When faced with situations like this where I 
> absolutely HAVE to do SOMETHING when I'd really 
> rather bail unless they buy the full package I'll 
> just throw in a few drywall screws into the ribs 
> on either side of the crack and call it a day. Kinda 
> depressing really.
> 
> best,
> Greg Newell
> 
> 
> 
> At 03:58 PM 8/15/2006, you wrote:
> >Hi all.  I’ll vent on you because my husband
> >just doesn’t “get it”.  Today was my first 
> >experience with telling a customer that her very 
> >pretty 100 year old Ludwig upright has major 
> >cracks in the soundboard and needs serious 
> >help.  (It’s buzzing in the F4 area).  She spent 
> >too much money on the piano, can’t afford an 
> >overhaul, and just stared at me like I’m supposed to perform 
> miracles.
> >
> >Any sympathy or miracle suggestions are welcomed.
> >
> >Michelle Smith
> >Smith Piano Service
> >Bastrop, Texas
> >(512) 466-0238
> >michelle at cdaustin.com
> >
> >
> >
> 
> Greg Newell
> Greg's Piano Forté
> mailto:gnewell at ameritech.net
> www.gregspianoforte.com  
> 
>