Brash Failure...was "Dead Wood"

[Joseph Garrett]

Ron,
That was a GIANT leap!<G> Theoretically, I would say yes. However, Brash
Failure can occur in a short period of time and sometimes not in many
lifetimes. At least, that's been my experience. I've seen pianos from your
neck of the woods, 50 years old and have major wood integrity failure. And,
I've seen pianos from Eastern Oregon that look and act like their brand
new! Go figger. It's something to do with how the wood has been kept and
the original integrity of the wood, as well, IMO. The only consistency is a
total lack of consistency.<G>	My general approach is: to not trust any wood
older than 50 years until I've worked with it and can make an assessment of
it's strength, etc. It's more of gut feeling than anything else. I have a
feeling you do the same, in one way or another.<G>		
Regards,
Joseph Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I


> [Original Message]
> From: Ron Nossaman <rnossaman at cox.net>
> To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 8/17/2006 3:03:24 PM
> Subject: Re: Brash Failure...was "Dead Wood"
>
>
> > Terry,
> > The best way I can explain it is with an experiment. Take a fairly new, 
> > (wood), hammer shank and break it. Now, take a really olde, (as in 
> > 100+), and break it. The olde one will break with little or no 
> > splintering. Almost like it was cut off, instead of broken. The new 
> > shank will have splinters all over the place. This is an example of 
> > Brash Failure. And, that is where the wood has lost a major amount of 
> > it's cellular bond and elasticity. K? Even attempting to glue repair
the 
> > olde wood is an exercise in futility, in my experience.
> > Regards,
> >  
> > Joseph Garrett, R.P.T.
>
>
> So all old soundboards need replaced too, and bridges as well, 
> right?
> Ron N
>
>
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