Well, Cy, as you already know, you're working with a failing pin block. Repairs of various kinds can be effected however the bottom line is that you're working with a failing medium. Time spent could be time lost. The risk for this is high with this piano. Possibly, after repairs are done, you'll have customer back lash to deal with consuming more of your time that you won't be paid for. The risk for this is extremely high with this piano. Bear in mind, the customer has already paid to have oversize tuning pins installed and that repair didn't hold very well.
They'd have been better off buying a Beau Dahnker piano to begin with.
If it were me, I'd aim my sights for more assured income with less chatter ...... simply put.
I'm rather amazed that the piano is only 40 years old and it needs a pinblock already. Sounds like it's been through some serious climatic abuse and perhaps some other piano munching conditions as well. A grand piano's rim holds together rather well when used as a garden planter.
The first method I was taught (summer of '71) was to use emery cloth. The grit was faced towards the wood of the pin block and the same sized tuning pin was then reinstalled. The emery cloth acted as a shim. Worked long enough to get paid for the tuning. I haven't seen one for a while but back in the day I think I remember that this repair was in the neighborhood of a 5 year repair on a receptive piano.
I've seen bronze shims that have held about as long. I currently tune an old upright that the owner limps along each December. I allow extra time to replace a tuning pin or two each trip. It's been repaired by numerous techs and has an array of repairs for loose tuning pins. I simply replace the old one with a fatter one. When that doesn't hold, I use emery cloth. The owner knows the ramifications and realizes each year is a blessing.
Long story short, the pin block is shot and the piano isn't worth having it replaced. A replacement piano just won't do for this household. Singing Christmas carols around the old piano is the tradition they're willing to hang on to. My job is to facilitate that process as best as I can for them.
On grands, the method is a bit different due to the exposure of the underside of the pin block. It absolutely needs to be supported for this repair or else you run the risk of a major ply separation as the tuning pin is reinstalled .... not to mention the structural support that's needed anyway.
If the customer is willing to limp their piano along, and pay you accordingly, make sure they understand the long range plan. With out the complete pin block replacement, the piano's useful days are fast coming to a close. Good communication is paramount at this stage.
The epoxy repair that Roger has experience with sounds to be about the most viable repair for now, however at a two trip minimum, the expense is money spent on failing medium that could be better spent on ........... a babe, a beer and a brat(wurst) ....... or other living decorations ........ in my opinion.
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Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
360-256-2999
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2013 18:35
From: Roger Aycock
Subject: Larger pins for problem pinblock
I have had excellent results with epoxy. Pull the action and cover the bottom of the hole with masking tape so the epoxy won't run out.
fill the hole with epoxy, let it cure and redrill. If the pinblock is about gone, the epoxy may help to strengthen it in the area of the loose pins and prolong it for a while.
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Roger Aycock, RPT, TEC
Marietta, GA
rogerspiano@bellsouth.net
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-07-2013 17:59
From: Ronald Nossaman
Subject: Larger pins for problem pinblock
On 2/7/2013 3:37 PM, Roger Aycock wrote:
>
> Super glue, gorilla glue, etc is not the proper way to solve this problem.
> Piano repair 101 says that if a pin is loose, remove the pin and replace it
> with one of a larger and/or longer size.
Well, that's old school 101, but times and options do change. In this
case, going up to 3/0 has already failed.
Ron N