David B. said: "A few weeks ago I posted about an old overdamper piano that had sat untuned for decades in a house the moldered unoccupied and damp for years. The person who now owns the house, inherited from a great-aunt, has restored the property, and wanted to keep the piano if possible, even though he realises what grade of piano it is, partly because it was probably in the house almost since it was built, partly because the case finish is still very good, and partly because he played it as a child on holiday there. I posted asking about CA versus Epoxy, if it was decided to do anything at all with pinblock splits. The consensus here favoured epoxy somewhat CA, and leaving well alone another favoured option. I'm looking for advice now regarding the fact that the house has underfloor heating. It's in a remote location without mains gas, and accessed by a road bridge that was too weak to tkae oil delivery trucks, so when the guy was planning the renovations, he opted for electric underfloor heating. After doing the work, the Council decided to renew the road bridge! What are the implications for this old birdcage piano, of underfloor heating, and if it was desired to insluate the base of the piano from it, how might this best be achieved? Is underfloor heating likely to be more detrimental than other forms of heating? The piano was fla by wildly different amounts over the compass, and I tuned it to a kind of average. The customer tells me that the top has fallen a semitone or so, but the middle three octaves are still presentable. I will be returning is some days to do more tuning. (Time for tuning was limited last time as I had to spend a lot of time on the action). Comments on underfloor heating appreciated! Best regards," David, I would say that the balance of the piano, as you have described is suspect that something may have come from together in the upper treble. Perhaps the butt-block-pinblocks have dislodged. Or,....since I've seen this in many of the beloved "rejects" sent here from your lovely Overdamper Country, (just jesting<G>), upon the initial tuning, as you described before. If you did not tune it to it's designed pitch, that could exacerbate the problem of instability. I suggest getting back to the piano asap and retune it, to it's designed pitch, (I suggest 435cps), if a thorough inspection shows nothing suspect. That would be my take on the situation. Perhaps with some TLC, the piano can be put in a semblance of playable condition. (whatever that is and is determined by your client and the depth of his pocket.<G> I would approach this as if the piano were my large airtight wood stove. I have a large metal clad insulator board under it, to keep the heat from the stove from attacking the asphalt tile floor. The opposite is needed, but I believe the same kind of insulating board would accomplish what you want. And that is to keep the direct heat away from the proximity of the piano.<G> Worth a try. If that can't be accomplished than I suspect the piano will self-destruct! Have fun, Joe Joe Garrett, R.P.T. Captain of the Tool Police Squares R I
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