[pianotech] filling screw holes!

[Joseph Garrett]

Richard,
My usual "wood" for plugs is scrap pinblock material. BTW, finding good
plug cutters is difficult, in my experience. And, they are, usually, not
cheap. :-(  Sometimes I just use the wood that matches the original
material, if cosmetics is an issue. A lot depends on the stresses involved
and the frequency of the screw(s) being removed and re-installed. In the
case of the lid prop, there's really nothiing that can be done, short of
making the whole thing out of Steel! I suspect the little darlings, (aka
students<G>), could manage major damage on any given day, with little
effort on their part. <G>
 As for the screws, I have, over the years, busted up a lot of clunker
pianos. I've made the effort to salvage everything worthwhile, especially
screws.<G> It's a great source for parts that are no longer available.
(that list keeps getting longer by the day.) If you go into a good hardware
store, today, you will be hard pressed to find slotted screws! (don't
expect to find Brass, unless you are prepared to spend you retirement
fund!) Almost all of it is Made In China....out of less than stellar specs
or materials. There are exceptions to that, as the Chinese hardware/tools
seem to be getting better and better. But, then, the price will go up, so
the middle man will decide to have Pakistan or India or ??? make the cheap
crap again! A vicious circle to be sure. My aversion to phillips screws is
from too much experience with the damned things. As for the zinc plating?
That stuff is put on the screw, AFTER the screw is machined. Take a close
look at those threads. They will not be sharply defined. This diminishes
the efficiency of the screw and tends to cause premature stripping out,
imo. At least that's been my experience. When something, (piano, action,
lyre, whatever), comes into my shop the Phillips screws are ceremoniously
tossed in the circular file.<G> Then, I go to my huge collection of
salvaged stuff and replace with the good stuff. I hope all will do the same.
Let's face it, we do need to say the last rites on a lot of PSOs out there.
It will make us happier and less frustrated. Not to mention, the few
remaining Dealers, might sell a few more new pianos because of our
efforts.<G>
Best,
Joe


> [Original Message]
> From: Richard W. Bushey <rbushey4 at embarqmail.com>
> To: <joegarrett at earthlink.net>; <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 12/22/2012 9:32:25 AM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] filling screw holes!
>
> Joe,
>
> On the finished repair pic, I know they didn't match. Those were the
screws 
> that were with it....maybe from a previous repair attempt.  I didn't have 
> matching screws the correct size on hand.  I always try to use the
existing 
> screws when possible.  This was at a school where the piano got hard use
and 
> this was not the only mismatched hardware on the piano.
>
> I did use a zinc screw in the plain wood picture, but that was the first 
> screw I found laying around.
>
> As far as the end grain, yes, you are right.  Short of cutting plugs with
a 
> plug making tool (which I don't have, but ought to get), this was far 
> better, in my opinion and experience for most applications than filling
the 
> messed up, "v"ed hole with toothpicks and/or shoepeg dowels.  I've seen 
> dowel used hundreds of times in different places to repair screw holes,
and 
> I personally have not had issues with it.....yet.   HOWEVER, you are 
> absolutely correct, and they could eventually strip out in time if under 
> quite a bit of stress.  I will look into finding a plug cutter at a good 
> price, cut a bunch and keep them handy.
>
> Suggestions on what type wood best for wood plugs?
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> Richard W. Bushey
> Richard's Piano Service
> www.RichardsPianoService.com
> Rbushey at RichardsPianoService.com
> 573-765-9903
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett at earthlink.net>
> To: "pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2012 1:22 AM
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] filling screw holes!
>
>
> > "Attached are some pics of what I've been using most of the time."
> >
> > Hmmm? Zinc Plated Phillips Screws?!!!! Please? Noooo! Then, we have
> > Hammershanks to fill with? Oh, goody, right into end grain. Lovely.
> > Sigh.
> > Joe
> >
> >
> > Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
> > Captain of the Tool Police
> > Squares R I
> > 
>
>
> --
> I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
> SPAMfighter has removed 1124 of my spam emails to date.
> Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len
>
> Do you have a slow PC? Try a Free scan
http://www.spamfighter.com/SLOW-PCfighter?cid=sigen
>