[pianotech] Open Face Pinblock Repair

[Ron Nossaman]

On 12/26/2012 9:13 AM, Rex Roseman wrote:
>
> I have a customer with a Bremen Console Piano that has separation of the
> pinblock from the back. I have done this repair before on pianos with a full
> plate, but never on one with an open pinblock. The pictures show the various
> areas of the pinblock and how they relate to the plate. #5 in the high
> treble shows the only place where the plate covers the pinblock for any
> support.
>
> The question is: is it possible to use the usual bolts and glue repair or
> will there not be enough surface area affected on the pinblock side for
> bolts to really hold? My first thought would be that the bolts, even with
> large washers, would just crush the wood and not have the tension spread
> over a big enough area to make the repair stable. In a full plate, the plate
> helps to spread the support over a larger area.

If the original screw heads didn't pull through the pinblock (which they 
didn't), then a 3/8" nut with a washer won't either. Without the plate, 
you have the option to easily put in as many bolts as makes you feel at 
ease, without drilling iron. I see no reason it wouldn't work if the 
rest of the back assembly is solid, but that applies to any repair of 
this type.
Ron N