<html><head><style type="text/css"></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">I readily endorse this method of not lowering pitch if the piano is already flat. I first read this from Ron N a year or two ago and recently had the opportunity to give it a try on a S&S Model VO (very old).  Ron N also made me re-think whether it is important, or even necessary, to have a secure glue joint. The bolts totally secure the pinblock to the backposts, is it even necessary to squirt glue or epoxy into the joint?</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Dave Davis, RPT<BR><BR></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: tom <tomtuner@verizon.net><BR>To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org><BR>Sent: Friday, March 2, 2007 8:31:29 AM<BR>Subject: RE: Pinblock/back separation repair<BR><BR> <STYLE>  </STYLE> <DIV class=Section1> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">List,</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">            My last back repair was on a generic spinet –early 50’s as I recall.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">            I’ve often lowered pitch before pulling things together with heavy C clamps, but this piano was 100 cents + low .</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">            I set up my accutuner and checked pitch across the scale as I –SLOWLY!!! --tightened and closed the back.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">            Easiest pitch raise ever! The thing came up right around pitch as the back closed up. . </SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">            This piano had plate screws in the right places to secure the repair. I removed them and drilled through for bolts.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I like to use carriage bolts with the head on the back side with washers on both sides and lock washer and nut on the front.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">            I usually bring a few lengths of bolt and if nec. cut any protruding threads with a hack saw. File smooth and you have a neat repair without any protruding nuts on the back to scratch the wall.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">            Then tune, tune, tune .and to answer the question the job took a few hours including a few passes to stabilize tuning.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">            I set up follow-up tuning shortly after as we were on the cusp of a season change here in N.E.</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tom Driscoll RPT</SPAN></FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> </SPAN></FONT></P> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">----- Original Message ----- </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN: 5pt 0in 5pt 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">I need to do this repair on a 46 year old Sohmer upright, model 34K.  I have the procedural description found in Randy Potter's course but I'm looking for a rough estimate of the person hours involved.  (Already consulted "G" Piano Works Repair Labor Guide, to no avail.  But Joe, how do you like that citation?)  Anyone have any ideas how long each bolt takes?  the entire job?  Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'"> </SPAN></FONT></P></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'">Jim Frazee</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><BR></DIV></div></body></html>