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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Differing opinions regarding the benefit of =
lowering pitch
prior to drawing a pinblock/backpost separation back together have been
expressed on this list. I am one that generally feels more =
comfortable
lowering pitch. I thought it might be of benefit to put some numbers on
potential pitch changes. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Yesterday I did one of these repairs on a late =
model
(1980s) Baldwin Acrosonic console. It had an approximate 1/4-inch =
separation
between the pinblock and the backposts and deadwood back assembly. =
The
separation had been "repaired" in the past with something that appeared =
to be
silicone bathtub adhesive - surprisingly (?) the separation appeared to
have widened since the application of the silicone. The piano was =
tuned at
that time (and presumably tuned at standard pitch). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Prior to my repair the piano was fairly =
uniformly 75 cents
flat. I dropped the pitch to between 200 and 250 cents flat prior to any =
clamping. I yucked in West System epoxy thickened with #403
Microfibers. (A fine fiber blend, is used as a thickening additive =
with
resin/hardener to create a multi-purpose adhesive, especially for =
bonding wood.
Epoxy thickened with microfibers has good gap-filling qualities while =
retaining
excellent wetting/penetrating capability.) I drew the gap closed =
slowly
going back and forth among the six 3/4" pipe clamps (of which two got =
bent
pretty good!). The separation appeared to close very close to =
100%.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I then checked pitch again. Piano was fairly =
uniformly
about 75 cents flat. Therefore, it appears that closing the 1/4-inch gap =
resulted in a pitch increase of approximately 150 cents.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I will be going back to the job on Friday =
morning to
install a few through bolts, remove clamps, pitch raise and tune. If =
there is
anyone out there that perhaps has not seen this repair done (or whoever =
for
whatever reason) wants to see a few photos, I will take them Friday =
morning. Let
me know.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>