>This piano is the size and make which Allan Sutton described and has the frightening indications John Ross noted. Should I alarm this client with the prospect a plate failure? Or should I just leave well enough alone? I prefer to err on the side of integrity.< Phil - I would like to second John's methods of treating a separated back with just a couple alternatives. When clamping the separation back together, I release quite a bit of the tension from the strings first. I use bar clamps instead of c-clamps and put 3 -4" wide lengths of 3/4" oak with a felt facing between the jaws of the clamps and the plate to spread the pressure out and prevent damaging the plate. A c-clamp tightly clamped down would exert an enormous amount of pressure on one small area of the plate. I do like John's idea of using carriage bolts. I've used threaded rods which I've put washers and nuts on both sides. His idea would result in a much more attractive look, particularly from the back of the piano. I'll have to remember that the next time I run into this situation. The good news on this repair is that it works. I've done it on a dozen or more pianos over the years and never have had a reoccurring problem. With any repair of this drastic of a nature, however, I would have a * written* agreement with the owner that in a worst case situation, where the plate did break, that you would be in no way liable for any damages, and that you would still be paid for the work that you did. Otherwise, if he's not agreeable to this, I would tell him to find another technician. Chuck -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090416/12ce5c7b/attachment.html>
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