PianoTech Archive

  • 1.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-15-2010 20:59
      |   view attached 
    From Jack Houweling <jackhouweling@dccnet.com>

Any suggestion on this repair, I have a few ideas but want to hear from anyone who has done this.
The customer does not want to spend a lot of money so I want to know how it can be reinforced,
and done at the customers home. The base part of the leg and the post are still in one piece.

Regards,
Jack Houweling


  • 2.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-16-2010 09:22 
    From Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net>

Jack Houweling wrote:
> Any suggestion on this repair, I have a few ideas but want to hear from 
> anyone who has done this.
> The customer does not want to spend a lot of money so I want to know how 
> it can be reinforced,
> and done at the customers home. The base part of the leg and the post 
> are still in one piece.

So far, I like Mother's suggestion best. Jon's fix will work 
too. Best would be to make a new block out of maple or some 
such which will be stronger than either a fix, or the original.
Ron N


  • 3.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-16-2010 09:23 
    From "Gerald Groot" <tunerboy3@comcast.net>

Hi Jack,

 

If they're not interested in spending the proper amount of money fixing it
right then I wouldn't be interested in doing anything to it at all, period.
That's my take.  They should either fix it right or call someone else that
doesn't care.  But, that someone won't be me.  Remember, someone else will
be following up after you sooner or later with the possible thought of, who
in the heck did THIS kind of shoddy repair instead of doing it correctly to
begin with, not knowing the whole story then, your reputation could be
affected.  

 

Try this.  Flat out refuse to do it half a**ed saying, either we'll do the
job right because my reputation is also at stake here or,  I won't do the
job at all, period.  That works for me more often than not and if not, I
walk away.  If I get the go ahead, I will send in a furniture repair guy to
fix that sort of thing.  It'll likely cost them $300 + to do it right, blend
in the broken pieces etc., but, it would look like it was never broken in
the first place when my guy was finished with it.     

 

Jer 

 

From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Jack Houweling
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 10:59 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: [pianotech] Fw: broken piano leg

 

Any suggestion on this repair, I have a few ideas but want to hear from
anyone who has done this.

The customer does not want to spend a lot of money so I want to know how it
can be reinforced,

and done at the customers home. The base part of the leg and the post are
still in one piece.

 

Regards,

Jack Houweling


  • 4.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-16-2010 09:47 
    From "Dave Davis" <dave@davispiano.com>

Jer,

Jack is intererested in how others would repair the leg. That is why he asked the question twice.  Jack has been in this business a very long time, is an amazing woodworker, makes a very good living, and I suspect that just like me, he isn't looking for another opinion about clients that want somethin' for nothin'. We all know how to handle clients like that.

My opinion,

Dave Davis, RPT




    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
                                                        Original Message


  • 5.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-16-2010 09:50 
    From "Gerald Groot" <tunerboy3@comcast.net>

Thanks Dave.  Didn't mean any harm.  

 

Jer

 

From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Dave Davis
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2010 11:47 AM
To: pianotech@ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fw: broken piano leg

 

Jer,

Jack is intererested in how others would repair the leg. That is why he
asked the question twice. Jack has been in this business a very long time,
is an amazing woodworker, makes a very good living, and I suspect that just
like me, he isn't looking for another opinion about clients that want
somethin' for nothin'. We all know how to handle clients like that.

My opinion,

Dave Davis, RPT

 

  _____  

From: "Gerald Groot" <tunerboy3@comcast.net> 

Sender: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org 

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:22:49 -0400

To: <pianotech@ptg.org>

ReplyTo: pianotech@ptg.org 

Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fw: broken piano leg

 

Hi Jack,

 

If they're not interested in spending the proper amount of money fixing it
right then I wouldn't be interested in doing anything to it at all, period.
That's my take.  They should either fix it right or call someone else that
doesn't care.  But, that someone won't be me.  Remember, someone else will
be following up after you sooner or later with the possible thought of, who
in the heck did THIS kind of shoddy repair instead of doing it correctly to
begin with, not knowing the whole story then, your reputation could be
affected.  

 

Try this.  Flat out refuse to do it half a**ed saying, either we'll do the
job right because my reputation is also at stake here or,  I won't do the
job at all, period.  That works for me more often than not and if not, I
walk away.  If I get the go ahead, I will send in a furniture repair guy to
fix that sort of thing.  It'll likely cost them $300 + to do it right, blend
in the broken pieces etc., but, it would look like it was never broken in
the first place when my guy was finished with it.     

 

Jer 

 

From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Jack Houweling
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 10:59 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: [pianotech] Fw: broken piano leg

 

Any suggestion on this repair, I have a few ideas but want to hear from
anyone who has done this.

The customer does not want to spend a lot of money so I want to know how it
can be reinforced,

and done at the customers home. The base part of the leg and the post are
still in one piece.

 

Regards,

Jack Houweling


  • 6.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-17-2010 12:37 
    From Jack Houweling <jackhouweling@dccnet.com>

Thanks to everyone, I went to the customers home today to inspect the piano and
 told them that the piano would have to come to my shop to fix it correctly. They did 
not want to do that.

 It was the cheap movers who broke the leg and now the clients want a cheap 
 repair which I will not do.  I do not want cheap clients.

Jack houweling







Don't make their worry into yours.
If they want it fixed they pay the price you charge or go elsewhere.
Who else will fix it for less than you. Just offer the best job at your
hourly rate.


  Jack is interpreted in how others would repair the leg. That is why he asked the question twice. Jack has been in this business a very long time, is an amazing woodworker, makes a very good living, and I suspect that just like me, he isn't looking for another opinion about clients that want somethin' for nothin'. We all know how to handle clients like that.

  My opinion,

  Dave Davis, RPT
   


------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: "Gerald Groot" <tunerboy3@comcast.net> 

  Sender: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org 

  Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2010 11:22:49 -0400

  To: <pianotech@ptg.org>

  ReplyTo: pianotech@ptg.org 

  Subject: Re: [pianotech] Fw: broken piano leg

   

  Hi Jack,

   

  If they're not interested in spending the proper amount of money fixing it right then I wouldn't be interested in doing anything to it at all, period.  That's my take.  They should either fix it right or call someone else that doesn't care.  But, that someone won't be me.  Remember, someone else will be following up after you sooner or later with the possible thought of, who in the heck did THIS kind of shoddy repair instead of doing it correctly to begin with, not knowing the whole story then, your reputation could be affected.  

   

  Try this.  Flat out refuse to do it half a**ed saying, either we'll do the job right because my reputation is also at stake here or,  I won't do the job at all, period.  That works for me more often than not and if not, I walk away.  If I get the go ahead, I will send in a furniture repair guy to fix that sort of thing.  It'll likely cost them $300 + to do it right, blend in the broken pieces etc., but, it would look like it was never broken in the first place when my guy was finished with it.     

   

  Jer 

   

  From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Jack Houweling
  Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 10:59 PM
  To: Pianotech List
  Subject: [pianotech] Fw: broken piano leg

   

  Any suggestion on this repair, I have a few ideas but want to hear from anyone who has done this.

  The customer does not want to spend a lot of money so I want to know how it can be reinforced,

  and done at the customers home. The base part of the leg and the post are still in one piece.

   

  Regards,

  Jack Houweling


  • 7.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 07-16-2010 10:05 
    From "Dave Davis" <dave@davispiano.com>

No problem, Have a happy day.   

Dave




    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
                                                        Original Message


  • 8.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-16-2010 11:52 
    From John Ross <jrpiano@eastlink.ca>

It looks like there is a cavity, in the splintered break.
So just put lots of epoxy in there, with the piano on its back,
the splintered bits will bond better than a smooth surface.
Haven't done it, but looks doable.
How was the top of the leg attached?
Possibly a right angle bracket, on the back edge.
John Ross
  
    
                                                
    
					
                                                    

        
                                                
				
    
                                                
    
                                                    
                                                        
                                                        Original Message


  • 9.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-17-2010 12:45 
    From Jon Page <jonpage@comcast.net>

>  It was the cheap movers who broke the leg and now the clients want a cheap
>  repair which I will not do.  I do not want cheap clients.


Are not the movers responsible for the repairs?
-- 

Regards,

Jon Page


  • 10.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-17-2010 13:36 
    From Ron Nossaman <rnossaman@cox.net>

Jon Page wrote:
>>  It was the cheap movers who broke the leg and now the clients want a 
>> cheap
>>  repair which I will not do.  I do not want cheap clients.
> 
> 
> Are not the movers responsible for the repairs?

I've known many movers through the years, and every single one 
of them has screwed up and broken something at some time. It's 
inevitable. The good ones immediately make the call to the 
repairman themselves. The bad ones duck their heads and 
slither off as if they didn't notice, and don't return calls. 
These guys, pending an unlikely surprise, seem to be slitherers.
Ron N


  • 11.  Fw: broken piano leg

    Posted 07-17-2010 12:48 
    From paul bruesch <paul@bruesch.net>

That's what I'd have said, but Jack said they were cheap movers... not
likely to get far I don't think...

Paul Bruesch
Stillwater, MN

On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 1:44 PM, Jon Page <jonpage@comcast.net> wrote:

>   It was the cheap movers who broke the leg and now the clients want a
> cheap
>
>  repair which I will not do.  I do not want cheap clients.
>
>
>
>  Are not the movers responsible for the repairs?
>
> --
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Jon Page
>