[pianotech] Player piano question.

[Duaine Hechler]

Chuck,

When I first started the player rebuilding, I started with "hot" hide
glue. Like you, I could never, get the glue to the right consistency and
in place before it would gel.

Right or wrong, in some minds, I turned to the "cold" hide glue for the
last three any seemed to work good.

This last rebuild, after much discussion with others, I'm trying "fish
glue". It's a high tack glue, yet easy to "wiggle" to make sure you get
in the right place before I clamp with the spring clamps.

As well as, turning to Columbia Organ Leather for my supplies. They have
"pre-sealed" pneumatic leather for pouches, valves, etc.

Duaine

On 01/30/2011 12:59 PM, Chuck Behm wrote:
> List - I've got a question concerning a player piano rebuild that I'm
> hoping those with more experience can give an opinion on.
>
> Back in the 70's and early 80's I rebuilt a number of player actions,
> but I've since tried to steer clear, and leave the work to others with
> more expertise than myself.  Recently, however, after some arm
> twisting, I consented to take a player into the shop. The piano work
> is done, and I now need to tackle the player action.
>
> Here's my question. With the past rebuilds, I've decided that the
> gluing method that I used to attach the bellows to the decks has not
> proved as tight as I would like.  I used hot animal hide glue, and
> clamped the bellows with Jiffy clamps overnight. But now, 20 or 30
> years later, I don't think the seals are completely tight.
>
> Would I see an improvement if I were to preheat one or the other of
> the wood surfaces? I've always wondered if the glue might have gelled
> prematurely upon contacting the cold wood? Or, would I be better off
> to put in an automotive type gasket material, and use Titebond? I want
> a bond that is able to be torn back apart down the road, if another
> rebuilder does the whole thing over again in some distant year. Not
> likely, I realize, but I myself re-redid a couple of rebuilds where
> the previous rebuilder had glued the bellows directly to the decks
> with woodworking glue. On one such pianos I had to remake the entire
> set of bellows from scratch - a job that definitely wasn't figured
> into the estimate!
>
> Duaine, would you have an opinion on this? What is the method you prefer?
>
> Thanks, Chuck


-- 
Duaine Hechler
Piano, Player Piano, Pump Organ
Tuning, Servicing & Rebuilding
Reed Organ Society Member
Florissant, MO 63034
(314) 838-5587
dahechler at att.net
www.hechlerpianoandorgan.com
--
Home & Business user of Linux - 11 years