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<DIV>"Epotec 301 epoxy to all the pins..... After overnight cure, =
The
surface seemed a bit tacky..."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I have not used Epotec yet, but have used West System extensively. =
I would
be concerned about any epoxy mixture that did not cure overnight (so =
that it is
not tacky). This may indicate an improperly mixed batch of epoxy (don't =
ask how
I know, but one can mix improper resin/hardener ratios, and/or not mix =
the batch
thoroughly enough, leaving some resin hardener-starved). Do you have a =
left-over
glob on a mixing board? I always am sure to save a little glob (at =
least) on my
spreader/mixer or something to see that I did not make any mistakes with =
mixing
the hardener & resin, i.e., I make sure my glob got hard overnight =
so that I
know my repair has a good batch of epoxy in it. Once or twice over the =
years I
have made boo-boos, but at least I became aware of it before the work =
went out
the door (time to clean and re-do!).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>P.S. HA! I'll have to try this Epotec stuff. My spell checker =
thinks it is
"Erotic"!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Terry Farrell<BR>Piano Tuning & Service<BR>Tampa, Florida<BR><A =
href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com</A></DI=
V>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: =
0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>
<A href="mailto:cmpiano@home.com" title=cmpiano@home.com>Meyer =
Carl</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"
title=pianotech@ptg.org>pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, January 17, =
2001 2:02
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> S and S K52</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>List:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I'm presently working on a 1909 S&S K52. =
It was
professionally refinished. I've so far replaced the
keytops, rescaled with PSCALE, and restrung using wound strings =
on the
first 5 notes above the bass break. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Prior to stringing I lowered the plate w/o =
removing it by
using a saber saw to take the thickness or height of the dowels down =
by one
saw kerf. As the screws rose toward the treble side I used =
progressively
thinner blades (some by hand for accessability). Along the =
bottom I used
more than one kerf as required to get the downbearing I =
wanted. I
found I had to remove most of the screws completely and lube with bees =
wax in
order to pull them down. Rust and corrosion made them just too =
tight to
move. This worked rather well. I cleaned the bridge by =
clamping a
brass brush to the blade of an electric carving knife. The brass brush =
was
about the size of a toothbrush. Then by sections I warmed the =
bridge
with a hair drier and applied Epotec 301 epoxy to all the pins. I =
then
rewarmed with the hair drier to help penetration of the epoxy. =
Since
that is slow setting stuff, I waited awhile and then removed the =
excess by
brushing the whole bridge with a dry paint brush, wiping the brush
often. I ended up with a nice looking bridge with a coating of =
epoxy on
it. Might not look good enough for a grand, but looks =
okay. After
overnight cure, The surface seemed a bit tacky, so I sprinkled talc =
on
it and brushed it in and then blew off the excess with my air =
hose. That
worked pretty good considering it didn't take long at all except for =
the cure
time.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>So now, I'm starting to regulate and replace the
dampers. Hammers are decent but not original.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I now have several questions, since I'm not one =
who (only
works on Steinways), actually seldom do.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>In the piano action handbook it calls for .4 =
inches
dip. I see specs that vary for dip and I've thought that =
since the
dip is the first interface between the performer and the instrument it =
would
seem that uniform dip from piano to piano would be desirable. In most =
cases
regulation can compensate for different dips, so a uniform dip =
could be
used. I'm not a player so perhaps I don't have a feel for this. =
Anybody
have any strong opinions on this? How sacred is following the
manufacturing specs regarding dip?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I found that repetition was poor in the high =
treble. I
found action centers were a bit tight especially the jack. After =
water
and alky, protec and the zapper, it repeats better, but key 88 has a =
chunk of
lead in it and the dowel capstan pushes up about14 grams. Now =
the weight
of the whippen is not much more than that, so if there is some lost =
motion
then the whippen may not even push the key down beyond the lost motion =
and that will produce a key leveling problem.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Question: What is the criteria for jack
tightness?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>A gram gauge at the end of the jack should read no =
more that
what?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Question: Should I remove lead to get better =
repetion
and have better up weight and down weight? Or am I missing
something?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Last question: The dampers of S&S =
uprights as well
as Mason and Hamlin are very different than most uprights. The =
felt
between the block and the popsicle stick is much thicker than standard =
supply
house dampers. They have the popsicle sticks in the center section as
well. What do you do to replace those? Steinway has a set =
of
dampers in their price list for 121 dollars, and I don't even know =
what they
consist of. Anybody use them, or do you just adapt standard
dampers?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Comments anybody? Thanks in =
advance!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Carl Meyer</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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