I have successfully had these welds, in this same place, welded and trussed underneath with soft iron bar stock. The folks I used were specialists in antique stove restoration ...unfortunately they are in Massachusetts.
http://www.ericksonsantiquestoves.com/ They weld cast iron every day, so were really comfortable with the process. Of particular interest to me, in researching the chances of success for this weld was that they use a high tech, specialty welding rod which works at a low temp. This means they avoid the real problem child in welding cast iron, which is differential heating of the surrounding plate. I was blown away, getting the plate back, how surrounding paint was not even destroyed by localized heat. A soft iron bar was added as a truss underneath each strut to reinforce the inadequate structure. The cost was really quite minimal, considering...I think it was 300 bucks or so, for 2 welds/gussets.
They said the iron was top grade...100% pig iron. I guess welders know what that means, as I don't.
Keep in mind these hidden costs.
1- fitting the block to these gussets will make the already hair raising, eon-stretching block fitting process even worse. Don't be afraid of glassing the block...it will be essential, as the block is almost impossible to fit well.
2- when banging tuning pins, support the block all the way to the floor, not just the keybed.
3- when deciding whether to work on this at all, check out all case joints, as the glue joints on these pianos are often horrendous
4-don't look at your clock when you do the work, because the time needed to work on this piano is measured in geologic time...seriously...
5-if this is a first or early career rebuild, don't do it...you'll just get down on yourself. The difficulties are beyond the pale.
I recently finished a B that came out as a gorgeous instrument...completely redesigned the entire inadequate structure. Next time, I will only take these pianos on with a $10-$12K Bechstein upcharge...seriously.
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Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-21-2017 09:52
From: Nicholas Gravagne
Subject: Cracked Bechstein Plate Struts
List
I received this email from a PTG colleague RE Bechstein cracked plate struts and am posting here for any and all comments. Photos attached.
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Hi Nick,
I have a customer with this 1906 model A grand that has a cracked plate in 2 of the struts at the pinblock area. The customer has sentimental attachment to this piano and considering having it restored. I have informed her that a cracked plate usually condemns a piano but I thought considering where the cracks are, maybe there is someone who can do a weld job on this piano with success.
A colleague of mine thought there was a company that does repair cracked plates and guarantees the repair by keeping the piano for a period of time after they had repaired the cracks and restrung the piano. Do you know of such a company or person? If you have any leads, that would be great. I have attached some pictures of the piano and the cracks. I marked the top of the cracks with a pen so I could keep track of the crack getting worse.
Thanks Nick,
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Nick Gravagne, RPT
AST Mechanical Engineering