Cracked Apron Question and Serial# Help

[Michael Magness]

On Nov 9, 2007 8:55 AM, Joe And Penny Goss <imatunr at srvinet.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> The apron will not move much as it is held in place by 30+ bridge pins.
> Joe Goss RPT
> Mother Goose Tools
> imatunr at srvinet.com
> www.mothergoosetools.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: KeyKat88 at aol.com
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 5:51 AM
> Subject: Cracked Apron Question and Serial# Help
>
>
>
> Greetings,
>
>          A church has a free old Rudolf upright piano serial# 26537.   It's
> a pretty well built piano, except it has a split apron, and it has a ghost
> glue mark as if it was originally located 1/2" higher on the soundboard . I
> tried to move the apron from side to side against the sound board to see if
> it was loose. It wont budge. I cannot tell if someone reglued it back on the
> sound board.
>
> Q. Would a piano's apron be loose enough to move even if the glue joint was
> broken? In other words, would the downbearing/tension of the strings hold
> the apron in place, even though the glue gave out?
>
> If the thing was re-glued, the tech was awfully neat with the glue. Either
> that, or it wasnt glued. I cannot tell. There is no dried oozed glue! Piano
> sounds great for its age.
>
> Q. How do I to repair so that it wont cost a small fortune? My guess is to
> loosen the bass strings, lightly hammer a small wedge of wood between the
> soundboard and apron, to temporariy separate them and then pour in some
> quality wood glue and remove the wedge.
>
> What is this piano's age? Thanks in advance!
>
> 5 year rookie
> Julia Gottshall
> Reading, PA
>
>
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Hi Julia,
Mike S has the right idea, checking for the screws through sounding
board buttons. Once removed however it isn't all that important to
remove all of the old glue since I would strongly suggest regluing it
with hide glue, which is what it undoubtedly was glued on with in the
first place. Since hide glue has the ability to adhere to itself it
saves you a ton of work trying to remove all of the old glue and have
a clean wood surface for Titebond. I have reglued , bridges and aprons
many times with hide glue and it is my glue of choice on old uprights
and old pianos in general in many circumstances.

Mike


-- 
Knowledge is realizing that the street is one-way, wisdom is looking
both directions anyway.
Michael Magness
Magness Piano Service
608-786-4404
www.IFixPianos.com
email mike at ifixpianos.com