[pianotech] filling screw holes

[Joseph Garrett]

Paul M. said: 
"A school that I tune for has a Kawai grand, and about a third of the
little screws from the long hinge (connecting the front lid to the main
lid) have fallen out. I've told them repeatedly that if they need to move
the piano around the room they must not push on the lid (I even left a note
to the lid warning against it), and of course they have ignored this
advice. 
 
In the past I tried replacing them with slightly longer screws but those
have fallen out too. Obviously I need to fill the holes with something, I
guess using a syringe, but what? Epoxy? Wood filler? Thick CA? " 

Paul,
Think WOOD.<G> Veneer, maple, (round), toothpicks, or ??? install with
glue. Run the screw in and let it set for about an hour and then back the
screw out, clean off any glue, coat with bee's wax and reinsert. Or....just
leave them in and let the next guy/gal worry about removing them w/o
breaking.<G> As for the students/teachers pushing the piano by the lid? You
can't control stupidity imo. Part of the problem is the lid is made out of
MDF or HDF screws don't hold too good in that stuff, if flexed continually.
(That's why the darned thing weighs a ton!<G>
Best,
Joe 


Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I