<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> In this case it was somebody else’s money paying for it. The piano had been in a fire, the owner debated for awhile on just keeping the insurance money, but decided to get the work done as it has a pretty case. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My intent was to go with oversize pins and CA glue, but it already had size 5’s in it- a definite indication of loose pin problems in the past. After I got the top and sides off I could also see that the original block wasn’t much. I didn’t want any future problems so I decided to go with the plugs. I debated routering out the old block and epoxying a new one in place. But it seemed like a good opportunity to use the plugs since it was an open face block. I am really happy with the results so far. The wire went on yesterday and the pins feel really nice. I used the 1/2” maple plugs from Webb Phillips. I figure the time saved more than compensates for the cost of the plugs. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Most of the other upright restorations I have done were family heirlooms. I have done 3 or 4 as spec pianos with PianoDisc installs. They were particularly stunning cabinets. They didn’t make a lot of money, but I did make shop time.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Dean May</st1:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City> <st1:State w:st="on">IN</st1:State>  <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Alan R. Barnard Sent: Friday, December 15, 2006 12:42 AM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Major work on uprights ... was re: pin block drill press<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> I'm curious about two topics:<o:p></o:p> 1. Under what conditions do you see umpty-ump (200+) plugs inserted and drilled as a better fix than oversized pins?<o:p></o:p> 2. How many old uprights do you see that are really worth this much time, trouble, and money? Seems like my customers just bail out when it gets too pricey. I've done a couple of restrings/new hammer/new felts/regulation kinds of rebuilds, but in most cases, anything over $700 or $800 and they consider other options. Even some premium brands (Crown, Steinway, Knabe, ...) die or sit barely playable rather than being rebuilt. I certainly can't imagine rebuilding any upright as a spec piano and hoping to make a profit ... got to be an heirloom or family treasure to have that kind of value, or so it seems to me.<o:p></o:p> Alan Barnard <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Salem</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">MO</st1:State></st1:place> Joshua 24:15 <o:p></o:p> <div style='border:none;border-left:solid black 2.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt'> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center> </div> Original message From: "<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Dean May</st1:PersonName>" <DEANMAY@PIANOREBUILDERS.COM>To: "<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG>Received: 12/12/2006 9:23:35 PM Subject: pin block drill press<o:p></o:p> Hi all,<o:p></o:p> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> some time back I was asked to post pictures of my set up for drilling  pin blocks. I had a machine shop make a solid round bar the same diameter as my drill press column. I then welded the column to a steel plate which I screwed to a piece of birch plywood. This gives a little sled that I can put the drill press head on and scoot it around a table I have set up<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> The table is just a double pin block blank. I have anti-gravity pads underneath it to float it over the piano. ;-)  On a grand I just lay it across the sides of the piano, usually with a couple of bar clamps to secure it. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> When drilling I have one of my sons stand off to the side to hold the vacuum hose. These does double duty of keeping the chips out of the  way and it keeps the drill bit cool. My bits never get dull. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div> Last picture is the finished product- 1/2" plugs from Webb Phillips. I've never installed them before and it went pretty well. <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> <OBJECT id=ieooui classid=clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D></OBJECT>Dean<o:p></o:p> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Dean May</st1:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City u1_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City> <st1:State u1_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">IN</st1:State>  <st1:PostalCode u1_x003a_st="on" w:st="on">47802</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <div>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html>