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Friends and Colleagues,

The attached photo is looking from treble side to bass, top view, of the failed glue joint between the back and pinblock of a Model 45 Sohmer studio.  With the lid raised, you can clearly see the 3/8 to ½ inch gap that has allowed the plate and action brackets to cant toward the keyboard and make the instrument totally unplayable. The gap extends nearly to the lower edge of the pinblock.  Before rushing into the project and as  this is a piano worthy of a go at repairing it,  I wanted to gather some collective wisdom and experience of anyone else who might have seen and dealt with this problem. 

Right now my thinking and procedure lines up like this:

1.        Remove action, keys, etc.

2.       Decrease tension, but not remove the strings.

3.       Remove top plate bolts

4.       As the only access to the glue joint is from top, remove as best as possible any wood chips that might be showing proud in the joint with various thin cutting tools. Blow out with high pressure air.

5.       Dry fit with multiple clamps along the entire length of the fault to ensure there has been no side slippage between the pin block and the back.  As the lower plate bolts will be not be removed, the side movement should be minimized or eliminated at best.

6.       After removing clamps and wedging the gap as wide open as possible, apply slow setting glue into the gap using thin glue spreaders and multiple glue persons along the entire length of the gap.  Right now I am thinking cold hide as my first choice, but definitely open to other suggestions.

7.       Clamp along entire length of glue joint.  Allow to set up.

8.       Replace top plate screws  with large bolts that go thru the entire pinblock and back assembly.

9.       Bring strings back up to tension, reassemble action and keys and tune. 

I am concerned about the amount of access that the gap allows for applying adequate glue.  I welcome any comments or suggestions.

Best to all,

Anthony J. Pascone RPT

Registered Piano Technician

Pascali Piano

(919) 309-7788

www.pascalipiano.com

Friends and Colleagues,

The attached photo is looking from treble side to bass, top view, of the failed glue joint between the back and pinblock of a Model 45 Sohmer studio.  With the lid raised, you can clearly see the 3/8 to ½ inch gap that has allowed the plate and action brackets to cant toward the keyboard and make the instrument totally unplayable. The gap extends nearly to the lower edge of the pinblock.  Before rushing into the project and as  this is a piano worthy of a go at repairing it,  I wanted to gather some collective wisdom and experience of anyone else who might have seen and dealt with this problem. 

Right now my thinking and procedure lines up like this:

1.        Remove action, keys, etc.

2.       Decrease tension, but not remove the strings.

3.       Remove top plate bolts

4.       As the only access to the glue joint is from top, remove as best as possible any wood chips that might be showing proud in the joint with various thin cutting tools. Blow out with high pressure air.

5.       Dry fit with multiple clamps along the entire length of the fault to ensure there has been no side slippage between the pin block and the back.  As the lower plate bolts will be not be removed, the side movement should be minimized or eliminated at best.

6.       After removing clamps and wedging the gap as wide open as possible, apply slow setting glue into the gap using thin glue spreaders and multiple glue persons along the entire length of the gap.  Right now I am thinking cold hide as my first choice, but definitely open to other suggestions.

7.       Clamp along entire length of glue joint.  Allow to set up.

8.       Replace top plate screws  with large bolts that go thru the entire pinblock and back assembly.

9.       Bring strings back up to tension, reassemble action and keys and tune. 

I am concerned about the amount of access that the gap allows for applying adequate glue.  I welcome any comments or suggestions.

Best to all,

Anthony J. Pascone RPT

Registered Piano Technician

Pascali Piano

(919) 309-7788

www.pascalipiano.com

Friends and Colleagues,

The attached photo is looking from treble side to bass, top view, of the failed glue joint between the back and pinblock of a Model 45 Sohmer studio.  With the lid raised, you can clearly see the 3/8 to ½ inch gap that has allowed the plate and action brackets to cant toward the keyboard and make the instrument totally unplayable. The gap extends nearly to the lower edge of the pinblock.  Before rushing into the project and as  this is a piano worthy of a go at repairing it,  I wanted to gather some collective wisdom and experience of anyone else who might have seen and dealt with this problem. 

Right now my thinking and procedure lines up like this:

1.        Remove action, keys, etc.

2.       Decrease tension, but not remove the strings.

3.       Remove top plate bolts

4.       As the only access to the glue joint is from top, remove as best as possible any wood chips that might be showing proud in the joint with various thin cutting tools. Blow out with high pressure air.

5.       Dry fit with multiple clamps along the entire length of the fault to ensure there has been no side slippage between the pin block and the back.  As the lower plate bolts will be not be removed, the side movement should be minimized or eliminated at best.

6.       After removing clamps and wedging the gap as wide open as possible, apply slow setting glue into the gap using thin glue spreaders and multiple glue persons along the entire length of the gap.  Right now I am thinking cold hide as my first choice, but definitely open to other suggestions.

7.       Clamp along entire length of glue joint.  Allow to set up.

8.       Replace top plate screws  with large bolts that go thru the entire pinblock and back assembly.

9.       Bring strings back up to tension, reassemble action and keys and tune. 

I am concerned about the amount of access that the gap allows for applying adequate glue.  I welcome any comments or suggestions.

Best to all,

Anthony J. Pascone RPT

Registered Piano Technician

Pascali Piano

(919) 309-7788

www.pascalipiano.com

Friends and Colleagues,

The attached photo is looking from treble side to bass, top view, of the failed glue joint between the back and pinblock of a Model 45 Sohmer studio.  With the lid raised, you can clearly see the 3/8 to ½ inch gap that has allowed the plate and action brackets to cant toward the keyboard and make the instrument totally unplayable. The gap extends nearly to the lower edge of the pinblock.  Before rushing into the project and as  this is a piano worthy of a go at repairing it,  I wanted to gather some collective wisdom and experience of anyone else who might have seen and dealt with this problem. 

Right now my thinking and procedure lines up like this:

1.        Remove action, keys, etc.

2.       Decrease tension, but not remove the strings.

3.       Remove top plate bolts

4.       As the only access to the glue joint is from top, remove as best as possible any wood chips that might be showing proud in the joint with various thin cutting tools. Blow out with high pressure air.

5.       Dry fit with multiple clamps along the entire length of the fault to ensure there has been no side slippage between the pin block and the back.  As the lower plate bolts will be not be removed, the side movement should be minimized or eliminated at best.

6.       After removing clamps and wedging the gap as wide open as possible, apply slow setting glue into the gap using thin glue spreaders and multiple glue persons along the entire length of the gap.  Right now I am thinking cold hide as my first choice, but definitely open to other suggestions.

7.       Clamp along entire length of glue joint.  Allow to set up.

8.       Replace top plate screws  with large bolts that go thru the entire pinblock and back assembly.

9.       Bring strings back up to tension, reassemble action and keys and tune. 

I am concerned about the amount of access that the gap allows for applying adequate glue.  I welcome any comments or suggestions.

Best to all,

Anthony J. Pascone RPT

Registered Piano Technician

Pascali Piano

(919) 309-7788

www.pascalipiano.com

Friends and Colleagues,

The attached photo is looking from treble side to bass, top view, of the failed glue joint between the back and pinblock of a Model 45 Sohmer studio.  With the lid raised, you can clearly see the 3/8 to ½ inch gap that has allowed the plate and action brackets to cant toward the keyboard and make the instrument totally unplayable. The gap extends nearly to the lower edge of the pinblock.  Before rushing into the project and as  this is a piano worthy of a go at repairing it,  I wanted to gather some collective wisdom and experience of anyone else who might have seen and dealt with this problem. 

Right now my thinking and procedure lines up like this:

1.        Remove action, keys, etc.

2.       Decrease tension, but not remove the strings.

3.       Remove top plate bolts

4.       As the only access to the glue joint is from top, remove as best as possible any wood chips that might be showing proud in the joint with various thin cutting tools. Blow out with high pressure air.

5.       Dry fit with multiple clamps along the entire length of the fault to ensure there has been no side slippage between the pin block and the back.  As the lower plate bolts will be not be removed, the side movement should be minimized or eliminated at best.

6.       After removing clamps and wedging the gap as wide open as possible, apply slow setting glue into the gap using thin glue spreaders and multiple glue persons along the entire length of the gap.  Right now I am thinking cold hide as my first choice, but definitely open to other suggestions.

7.       Clamp along entire length of glue joint.  Allow to set up.

8.       Replace top plate screws  with large bolts that go thru the entire pinblock and back assembly.

9.       Bring strings back up to tension, reassemble action and keys and tune. 

I am concerned about the amount of access that the gap allows for applying adequate glue.  I welcome any comments or suggestions.

Best to all,

Anthony J. Pascone RPT

Registered Piano Technician

Pascali Piano

(919) 309-7788

www.pascalipiano.com

Friends and Colleagues,

The attached photo is looking from treble side to bass, top view, of the failed glue joint between the back and pinblock of a Model 45 Sohmer studio.  With the lid raised, you can clearly see the 3/8 to ½ inch gap that has allowed the plate and action brackets to cant toward the keyboard and make the instrument totally unplayable. The gap extends nearly to the lower edge of the pinblock.  Before rushing into the project and as  this is a piano worthy of a go at repairing it,  I wanted to gather some collective wisdom and experience of anyone else who might have seen and dealt with this problem. 

Right now my thinking and procedure lines up like this:

1.        Remove action, keys, etc.

2.       Decrease tension, but not remove the strings.

3.       Remove top plate bolts

4.       As the only access to the glue joint is from top, remove as best as possible any wood chips that might be showing proud in the joint with various thin cutting tools. Blow out with high pressure air.

5.       Dry fit with multiple clamps along the entire length of the fault to ensure there has been no side slippage between the pin block and the back.  As the lower plate bolts will be not be removed, the side movement should be minimized or eliminated at best.

6.       After removing clamps and wedging the gap as wide open as possible, apply slow setting glue into the gap using thin glue spreaders and multiple glue persons along the entire length of the gap.  Right now I am thinking cold hide as my first choice, but definitely open to other suggestions.

7.       Clamp along entire length of glue joint.  Allow to set up.

8.       Replace top plate screws  with large bolts that go thru the entire pinblock and back assembly.

9.       Bring strings back up to tension, reassemble action and keys and tune. 

I am concerned about the amount of access that the gap allows for applying adequate glue.  I welcome any comments or suggestions.

Best to all,

Anthony J. Pascone RPT

Registered Piano Technician

Pascali Piano

(919) 309-7788

www.pascalipiano.com