[pianotech] West System Epoxy as filler/wood rebuilder

[David Love]

Yes.  Don't use any filler and don't "fill" the holes.  Just brush it
lightly over the top and around the holes (you don't need much around the
top edge), wipe off the excess on the bridge top and in the notches and then
lightly ream the hole with a toothpick to make sure the holes aren't
actually filled up.  You need some of the hole open so that your drill can
use the old hole as a guide when you redrill.  When it's hardened redrill
for #7 in the capo, #8 in the tenor, #9 in the bass.  Lightly fine sand the
bridge top to smooth out the hardened epoxy (I assume you've already sanded
out the string grooves before you applied the epoxy).  Recut the notches,
insert the new bridge pins, tap them down to the new height (don't file
them), and then put a drop of thin CA at each pin.  Mask off and shoot with
clear lacquer.     

David Love
www.davidlovepianos.com


-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Dorr
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 7:11 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] West System Epoxy as filler/wood rebuilder

Hi,

I've got a bridge I'm working on with enlarged, though not really cracked, 
holes.  Rather than put in ever-larger pins, I thought I might try the West 
System Epoxy to fill the holes and then re-drill them.  Has anybody tried 
this?  Have recommendations for/against?  And if for, what filler would you 
prefer to use?

Thanks in advance,

John Dorr,
Helena, MT