[pianotech] West System Epoxy as filler/wood rebuilder

[Farrell]

On a piano that isn't bound for the concert stage - that is exactly what I have done in the past with very good results.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Al Guecia/AlliedPianoCraft 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2009 8:16 AM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] West System Epoxy as filler/wood rebuilder


  William, when you talk about resurfacing, are you just sanding or do you apply epoxy to the bridge top.

  Al


    From: William Monroe 
    Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 7:58 PM
    To: pianotech at ptg.org 
    Subject: Re: [pianotech] West System Epoxy as filler/wood rebuilder


    Hi John,

    Yep, done it may times - just did it today.  After resurfacing and notching the bridge, I use the same size pins and I don't redrill.  If the holes are grossly enlarged, recap.  Mix West System without fillers, and transfer to a large hypo-oiler.  I then use a strong squeeze clamp to encourage the epoxy to leave the oiler faster than you can squeeze it (it's pretty viscous).

    I insert the oiler to the bottom of the hole, and fill the holes.  Sometimes going back over them as the epoxy finds all the cracks and seeps into the entire bridge.  I drive the pins in to the desired depth, and use old panty hose (knee-high's work nice) to shoe shine the top of the bridge and get the epoxy to coat the bridge top and notches evenly.  I'll also use a nice, square-edge piece of hammer felt to swab/swipe the notches and spread the epoxy evenly there.

    If I'm doing it by myself, I'd do it in three passes - each half of the long bridge and then the bass bridge.  That should give you enough time to get things wrapped up before the epoxy thickens too much.  If in doubt, do four batches.  When all's dry shoot it with a coat of lacquer.

    William R. Monroe




    On Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 9:11 AM, John Dorr <a440 at bresnan.net> wrote:

      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








    -- 
    William R. Monroe, RPT
    A440-William R. Monroe Piano Services, Inc.
    314 E. Church St.
    Belleville, WI 53508
    608-215-3250
    www.a440piano.net
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