<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=windows-1252"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1141" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: = black"><B>From:</B> <A title=mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com">Farrell</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A = title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, March 29, 2003 = 2:10 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Epoxy Reinforcing = of Action Parts</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>A man after my epoxy reinforced heart! = Please explain the items below:</FONT></DIV> <DIV> <SPAN id=__#Ath#SignaturePos__></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV>----- Original Message ----- <DIV>From: "Bill Ballard" <<A = href="mailto:yardbird@vermontel.net">yardbird@vermontel.net</A>></DI= V> <DIV>To: <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>></DIV> <DIV>Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 12:03 AM</DIV> <DIV>Subject: Epoxy Reinforcing of Action Parts</DIV></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>> Dear List,<BR>> <BR>> i'm working on a 1906 Krakauer = 5'10" grand, restringing with original <BR>> board and block, new shanks = and hammers, and lots of <BR>> refurbish-whatevering in the action. New = shanks were a must because <BR>> the wood was fracturing right at the = bushings (must be reed maple, or <BR>> a let-off rail problem. But I stayed = with the original reps.<BR>> <BR>> It turns out all action parts or what = looks like American Beech, <BR>> which after nearly 100 years is quite = brittle. (That's why the <BR>> fractured shanks.) The reps did better, = although the week spot is the <BR>> joint between the jack fly and tender.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>What is the "jack fly"? I imagine the = "tender" is the foot part?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>You didn't ask me, but I think I can answer = a lot of these -- "Fly" is a factory term for the jack.  Yes, the tender = is the part that hits the regulating button.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> I fond out quickly that I <BR>> wasn't going to be able = to cradle the jacks the usual was. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>Please explain "cradle the jacks" - I am = not familiar with this term.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>I think he's referring to centering the = jacks in the repetition lever windows (by supporting the wippen from underneath the = jack center pin "fork" on the side towards which you want to move the jack, = and tapping the top of the jack with a small hammer to bend the center = pin).  </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> The back <BR>> of the jacks shear off through the CP = hole. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>Can you clarify this at all - can't quite picture?  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>But the old wood is too brittle, so instead = of the pin bending, the jack just splits and shears off at the center pin = hole.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> Bending the pin and <BR>> rotating it to vertical isn't = going to work. (The bent pin puts a <BR>> gouging stress on the bushing, and = shows no sign of ever loosening to <BR>> proper friction. Also the = orientation of the pin appears not to be <BR>> stable.)</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>Again, please explain/clarify. Why are = you bending pins? What pin - center pin? Rotating to vertical? I don't = have a clue as to what you are describing.</FONT></DIV><FONT color=#008000></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><FONT color=#008000>Bending pins to center the jack in the rep. lever hole = (other alternatives are  to install a new jack and hope it's = straight, or plug the center pin hole with ??? and re-drill it, which I've never tried.  Or put in a whole new wippen).  Yes, center = pin.  By vertical, I think he means centered in the window, as opposed to the = jack rubbing on the wippen because of a jack center pin hole drilled = crooked (or jack warpage, or sloppy bushing).</FONT> <DIV><BR> <BR>> But there are jacks which will need cradle, = and no matter how low I <BR>> set the psi on the air nailer, the jacks = fracture when I tap them to <BR>> cradle them. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>Air nailer? To "cradle" a jack? What is = this process? Please describe in detail.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>Never heard the term, but imagine that = "cradling" is centering the jacks in the window.  The tops of the jacks are = given a light but firm tap with a small hammer, just enough to bend the pin = and make the jack move laterally maybe 1/64 or 1/32, 1/16 max.  "Air = nailer" is a bit of humor.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>> So my next best guess is to impregnate the beech at the = <BR>> jack's elbow. That should render the jacks strong enough to take a = <BR>> cradling tap.<BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>You can put epoxy between wooden parts. You = can add epoxy to the exterior of parts. You can "impregnate" a material with = thin epoxy if it is quite porous. Beech is pretty darn dense stuff. You = will not be able to "impregnate" beech with epoxy.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>I'm very curious about the questions above. = I look forward to your descriptions.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT color=#008000>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV> <DIV><BR>> Does anybody know how to do this? It's going to be a = great piano. <BR>> I've promised to get it back to the  church for Easter.<BR>> <BR>> Bill Ballard RPT<BR>> NH Chapter, = P.T.G.<BR>> <BR>> "Lady, this piano is what it is, I am what I am, and you are = what you are"<BR>>      ...........From a recurring nightmare.<BR>> +++++++++++++++++++++<BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> pianotech list = info: <A = href="https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives">http://www.ptg.org= /mailman/listinfo/pianotech</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As far as impregnating beech with epoxy,  I don't know..... = I would go for all new jacks.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>        David Nereson, RPT</DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>