Joe, I wish it were an April fool's joke (although I can't seem to find the humor in it either!). I am familiar with the cosmetic "looks like a crack in the plate, but is just in the finish" to which you refer, and I cannot say conclusively that this is not one of those. I will get up close and personal with it, light and magnifier in hand, next chance I get. I suspect that it is an actual crack in the plate because it goes all the way around the strut in question (the cosmetic cracks I have encountered have been more along the lines of the one in your photo, meandering on a single flat surface). Thanks for your input, Alan Eder -----Original Message----- From: Joe DeFazio <defaziomusic at verizon.net> To: pianotech at ptg.org Sent: Fri, Apr 2, 2010 12:02 pm Subject: [pianotech] plate strut crack From: reggaepass at aol.com Date: April 1, 2010 11:58:15 AM EDT Has anyone out there had any experience with a crack visible all of the way around the plate strut that parallels the lowest bass string? Five years ago the school I work at had aStwy D donated (then 25 years old) that had/has such a crack. It doesn't seem to have gotten any worse, but the powers that be want to know what it's prospects are. I know there is a fix available (unaffordable at present), but haven't a clue as to what to expect without making the repair. Thanks, Alan Eder Hi Alan, I am going to assume that your question is sincere, despite the April 1 date. If I am completely missing some humorous content, it certainly won't be the first time. ; ) My response is just a question: are you sure that the metal is cracked? It is not uncommon for the filler or japanning to crack on the surface of the plate, with the metal intact, as in the picture below. When that happens it's usually a cosmetic defect, not a structural one. If the plate is really cracked, you will be able to see the jagged crystalline or granular surface of the metal inside the crack (use a strong light and a magnifier if necessary). Sorry, I don't have any wisdom to offer if it is indeed cracked. Joe DeFazio Pittsburgh = -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100402/0f853460/attachment.htm> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 18794 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100402/0f853460/attachment.jpeg>
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