[pianotech] Steinway Lyre bolts...

[Ron Nossaman]

On 11/23/2012 7:37 AM, Mike Kurta wrote:
>      If you want a "cheap and dirty" repair try this:  Carefully unwind
> the copper wrapping from a new or used heavy bass string so you wind up
> with what looks like a long spring.  Try to preserve the winding as
> small as possible.  Cut to the length of the bolt hole and insert.  Use
> as many as necessary.  Insert the bolt and tighten.  You may have to
> repeat the process by adding more lengths of copper.  It will conform
> itself to the hole when tightening the bolt.
>      If you are familiar with Heli-Coil® inserts, this works the same
> way.  By creating new metal threads within the wood it will be a
> permanent repair and removing and replacing the bolt in the future will
> not be a problem.  The copper imbeds itself into the stripped hole.
>      How does it hold?  On the ones I've done, I couldn't tighten the
> bolt any further, it really holds. This works on legs also.  Try it,
> you'll like it.....

Please please please, don't do this. I've found this in a lot of pianos 
through the years, as it used to be a common repair attempt. It is not 
permanent, does not work if the screw is taken out even once in a great 
while, and leaves the next guy a bigger chewed up hole to deal with. For 
a Q&D fix, strips of heavy leather - and GLUE - are a far better more 
functional and less destructive alternative, which drills out nicely 
when it comes time to fix it right.


>Of course the best repair is the Tee-Nut process
> using machine bolts.

You betcha, if the top or back side is reachable for installation.
Ron N