<html> Hi Dave,              I have clamped more than a few Baldwin laminated bridges with West systems epoxy with no re occurance of failures. Use the water thin type, it wicks very nicely. Roger At 07:51 PM 8/31/01 -0700, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>Joe: Why would you not clamp epoxy?  The bridge needs to be pulled back together, among other reasons, to get the pins back in the right position.  My conversation this date with Roger Weisensteiner confirmed my belief that this would be the method of choice for making this repair.  He suggested using a two part epoxy (e.g. West System type) and clamp it back together reinserting the pins either before or after it dried.  My concern with after is that if I have to redrill the case might be in the way.  So I will probably reinsert the pins before it dries. Regarding solvents and epoxy, I have, in the past, repinned bridges putting a drop or two of epoxy in the bottom of the bridge pin hole prior to inserting the pin.  The squeeze out I have cleaned up by brushing it onto the notch using an acid brush with a bit of lacquer thinner.   I think I may have been introduced to this technique by Bill Spurlock in a Journal article in fact.  Though I recognize the controversy surrounding epoxying bridge pins in, I wasn't aware that a bit of lacquer thinner was compromising the strength of the epoxy.  David Love<blockquote> <dl> <dd>----- Original Message ----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joseph Garrett</a> <dd>To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a> <dd>Sent: August 31, 2001 5:47 PM <dd>Subject: Re: split bridge <dd>David, <dd>It is not adviseable to "clamp" epoxy. Use a gap filling type and just let it set to almost, then clean up by scraping, etc. Also not adviseable to use the compatible solvent, of which there are two, (there may be more), Alcohol and lacquer thinner are verboten, it will simply break down the strenght of the epoxy. I personally use "steel epoxy" for this kind of repair. <dd>regards, <dd>Joe Garrett <dd>----- Original Message ----- <dd>From: <a href="mailto:davidlovepianos@earthlink.net">David Love</a> <dd>To: <a href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</a> <dd>Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 10:07 AM <dd>Subject: split bridge <dd>I have a customer with a Boesendorfer 225 c 1978.  The bridge is splitting along the speaking side pin line on the top 5-6 notes.  I'm not sure how long it has been this way, this is the first time I've seen the piano.  My intention is to remove strings from this area, work epoxy into the crack, pull it all back together with clamps and clean off the excess with a bit of lacquer thinner.  Any comments. <dd> <dd>David Love</blockquote></blockquote> </dl> </html>