[pianotech] Cracks in soundboard and eye bolt repair

John Dorr a440 at bresnan.net
Sun Nov 30 07:41:44 PST 2008


Wim,

Do you mean to insert the eye bolt HORIZONTALLY into the rib, then, and align 
the hole so that the screw then is inserted through it and is screwed upward 
into the sound board from the bottom?  Doesn't this assume a lot of drawing 
power of a small wood screw into a thin piece of spruce?  Does this leave a 
screw tip showing through the soundboard from above?  Or would you use a 
machine screw and washers/nuts to spread the load?

Geoff,

Are you thinking of putting the T-nut VERTICALLY through the rib and then 
screwing a machine screw into it down from above?  This might be another 
option (and worth exploring!), but I don't think it's what he meant.  We'll 
see when he answers the query above.

Interesting thread!

John Dorr, RPT
Helena, MT



Sender: "Geoff Sykes" <thetuner at ivories52.com>

Don't you mean something like a T-nut? That actually makes a lot of sense. 
Thanks.
  
-- Geoff
  


• Geoff Sykes, RPT



Geoff

As David explained, the buzzing is the vibrations between the soundboard and 
the ribs. One way to "fix" this, is to pull the soundboard to the ribs with 
the use of an screw through an eye bolt. (the kind you put a hook through on a 
screen door, only very small). Attach the eye screw into the rib, and screw a 
small screw into the soundboard, through the eye. It will draw the soundboard 
to the rib. To make it more permanent, squeeze a little glue between the 
soundboard and the rib.

You can do this from under near, laying on your back, but it will be easier if 
you tip the piano on it's side.

This is certainly not a perfect solution to the problem, and you might not be 
able to get to all the cracks/ribs, but it might eliminate enough of the 
buzzing to get you by for a couple of more years. .

Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT
Piano Tuner/Technician
  






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