Major work on uprights ... was re: pin block drill press

[Dean May]

In this case it was somebody else's money paying for it. The piano had been
in a fire, the owner debated for awhile on just keeping the insurance money,
but decided to get the work done as it has a pretty case. 

 

My intent was to go with oversize pins and CA glue, but it already had size
5's in it- a definite indication of loose pin problems in the past. After I
got the top and sides off I could also see that the original block wasn't
much. I didn't want any future problems so I decided to go with the plugs. I
debated routering out the old block and epoxying a new one in place. But it
seemed like a good opportunity to use the plugs since it was an open face
block. I am really happy with the results so far. The wire went on yesterday
and the pins feel really nice. I used the 1/2" maple plugs from Webb
Phillips. I figure the time saved more than compensates for the cost of the
plugs. 

 

Most of the other upright restorations I have done were family heirlooms. I
have done 3 or 4 as spec pianos with PianoDisc installs. They were
particularly stunning cabinets. They didn't make a lot of money, but I did
make shop time.

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Alan R. Barnard
Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 12:42 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Major work on uprights ... was re: pin block drill press

 

I'm curious about two topics:

1. Under what conditions do you see umpty-ump (200+) plugs inserted and
drilled as a better fix than oversized pins?

2. How many old uprights do you see that are really worth this much time,
trouble, and money? Seems like my customers just bail out when it gets too
pricey. I've done a couple of restrings/new hammer/new felts/regulation
kinds of rebuilds, but in most cases, anything over $700 or $800 and they
consider other options. Even some premium brands (Crown, Steinway, Knabe,
...) die or sit barely playable rather than being rebuilt. I certainly can't
imagine rebuilding any upright as a spec piano and hoping to make a profit
... got to be an heirloom or family treasure to have that kind of value, or
so it seems to me.


Alan Barnard
Salem, MO
Joshua 24:15




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Original message
From: "Dean May" 
To: "Pianotech List" 
Received: 12/12/2006 9:23:35 PM
Subject: pin block drill press

Hi all,

 

some time back I was asked to post pictures of my set up for drilling  pin
blocks. I had a machine shop make a solid round bar the same diameter as my
drill press column. I then welded the column to a steel plate which I
screwed to a piece of birch plywood. This gives a little sled that I can put
the drill press head on and scoot it around a table I have set up

 

The table is just a double pin block blank. I have anti-gravity pads
underneath it to float it over the piano. ;-)  On a grand I just lay it
across the sides of the piano, usually with a couple of bar clamps to secure
it. 

 

When drilling I have one of my sons stand off to the side to hold the vacuum
hose. These does double duty of keeping the chips out of the  way and it
keeps the drill bit cool. My bits never get dull. 

 

Last picture is the finished product- 1/2" plugs from Webb Phillips. I've
never installed them before and it went pretty well. 

 

 

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

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