Rebuilding an upright

[Fenton Murray]

Al,
I would concur with Dean, I've had great results plugging the block, I cut my own out of scrap. The sides need to come off to install the SB. Michael Campi showed me a method of sawing a kerf on the back side up the glue line with a skill saw, makes knocking the side off much easier, a shim is made to reassemble. Look real close for screws coming into the side through the end beam. Also, bridge locating is a little trickier because there is no rim to reference to, I use the block area  up high and build up a removable fixture at the bottom of the piano for reference. Other than that, it's straight forward, even easier because there's no rim so your not working down in a hole and the SB can be trimmed flush after glue up. A little thought has to go into clamping, use boards and fulcrums to get your clamps to "reach" over the pinblock (see photo).
Fenton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dean May 
  To: 'Pianotech List' 
  Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 9:50 AM
  Subject: RE: Rebuilding an upright


  I would heartily recommend the pin block plugs from Webb Phillips instead of replacing the entire pin block. They are easy to install and probably cheaper when you count reduced labor costs. Check out http://www.alliedpiano.com/pinblock.htm. They sell a gap filling glue to use with them but I just used Tite Bond with excellent results. 

   

  Dean

  Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

  PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

  Terre Haute IN  47802

   


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  From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of AlliedPianoCraft
  Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 11:45 AM
  To: Pianotech List
  Subject: Rebuilding an upright

   

  I just got a call to rebuild a Stieff upright which the customer believes was made in the 1920"s. He wants a new soundboard, pinblock etc.

   

  While I have installed many soundboards (I don't make my own) and pinblocks in grands, I have never replaced any in uprights. 

   

  I have two questions: 1, Is it more or less difficult to replace a soundboard and pinblock on an upright?  2, Comparative price. How should I estimate the job as compared to a grand.

   

  Thanks for any input.

   

  Al Guecia
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