Pianotech

Hello technicians, I am looking to glue some buckskin on this Yamaha fall board to fix it for the owner who is very particular about his piano to be kept in top condition. What type of glue would you recommend? And why would this rub off in the first place, is it just 40 years of use?

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Leif Mathisen
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------Original Message------

Hello technicians, I am looking to glue some buckskin on this Yamaha fall board to fix it for the owner who is very particular about his piano to be kept in top condition. What type of glue would you recommend? And why would this rub off in the first place, is it just 40 years of use?

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Leif Mathisen
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Kevin, it's where the spring keeps the fall board from smashing the piano player's digits. Top photo, on the right. I think it is more of a leather than what we usually think of when we say buckskin (soft, stretchy). Bring the remnant to a Tandy Leather store to find a similar piece. I think a caul may have been used when it was put on originally, but that may be too much bother to make one for one job. I'll let others suggest a glue. Probably a thin tacky application to the wood, and an improvised caul (flexible piece of metal and some small clamps?).

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Patrick Draine
Billerica MA
978-663-9690

Original Message:
Sent: 01-21-2016 13:47
From: Kevin Fortenberry
Subject: 1973 Yamaha G3 Fallboard Buckskin

Are your referring to the felt along the bottom edge of the Fallboard-usually red??  OR, are you intending to say music rack/music desk? The music rack felt/leather seems to more what you are describing and buckskin is certainly a good choice for this. (I would use pre-cut "name board" felt for the bottom edge of the fall board.) 

Next-the best glue/adhesive discussion…..

Kevin 

------Original Message------

Kevin, it's where the spring keeps the fall board from smashing the piano player's digits. Top photo, on the right. I think it is more of a leather than what we usually think of when we say buckskin (soft, stretchy). Bring the remnant to a Tandy Leather store to find a similar piece. I think a caul may have been used when it was put on originally, but that may be too much bother to make one for one job. I'll let others suggest a glue. Probably a thin tacky application to the wood, and an improvised caul (flexible piece of metal and some small clamps?).

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Patrick Draine
Billerica MA
978-663-9690
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I use ecsaine for that application. Glue it with fish glue. I have four of those at my university, same vintage, and all wore out - I think it was the quality of the leather. Be sure to polish the spring, and rub powdered teflon into the surface of the occasions before gluing it in. 

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Fred Sturm
University of New Mexico
fssturm@unm.edu
http://fredsturm.net
http://www.artoftuning.com
"We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same." - Carlos Casteneda

Don't over complicate things. Scrape the old stuff off and glue the new
leather on with Titebond. It's about as simple as repairs get.
Ron N

------Original Message------

Hello technicians, I am looking to glue some buckskin on this Yamaha fall board to fix it for the owner who is very particular about his piano to be kept in top condition. What type of glue would you recommend? And why would this rub off in the first place, is it just 40 years of use?

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Leif Mathisen
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Tight bond works on leather?

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Leif Mathisen

Yes, of course. I wouldn't have suggested it if it didn't work.
Ron N

------Original Message------

Tight bond works on leather?

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Leif Mathisen
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It would be my tendency to use PVC-E and masking tape.  Ecsaine sounds perfect for the job but I'd imagine any leather of the same thickness would suffice.  Seeing as how the owner loves to know the details, Ecsaine would be worth the effort.

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Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
360-256-2999

Original Message:
Sent: 01-22-2016 00:04
From: Ronald Nossaman
Subject: 1973 Yamaha G3 Fallboard Buckskin

Yes, of course. I wouldn't have suggested it if it didn't work.
Ron N

Yes-completely agree Larry.

------Original Message------

It would be my tendency to use PVC-E and masking tape.  Ecsaine sounds perfect for the job but I'd imagine any leather of the same thickness would suffice.  Seeing as how the owner loves to know the details, Ecsaine would be worth the effort.

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Larry Fisher
Owner, Chief Grunt, Head Hosehead
Vancouver WA
360-256-2999
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If you use PVC-E glue to glue the leather strip, then yes, it would be prudent to tape it down overnight while the glue dries.

But if you use a more traditional glue like hot hide glue, or, my favorite for this kind of thing, Fish Glue, then no clamping will be needed.  The glue is so tacky it literally sucks the leather down onto the wood surface.

In any case, the glue should be thoroughly dry before the fallboard is re-installed and the spring starts pulling and pushing on the leather.

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Jurgen Goering

Original Message:
Sent: 01-22-2016 09:54
From: Kevin Fortenberry
Subject: 1973 Yamaha G3 Fallboard Buckskin

Yes-completely agree Larry.

I think the use of hot hide or fish glue would be best because the leather will nee to be replaced again and again. Hot hide is very reworkable.

Don't make it difficult to rework, it might be you.

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Regards,

Jon Page

Original Message:
Sent: 01-22-2016 20:17
From: Jurgen Goering
Subject: 1973 Yamaha G3 Fallboard Buckskin

If you use PVC-E glue to glue the leather strip, then yes, it would be prudent to tape it down overnight while the glue dries.

But if you use a more traditional glue like hot hide glue, or, my favorite for this kind of thing, Fish Glue, then no clamping will be needed.  The glue is so tacky it literally sucks the leather down onto the wood surface.

In any case, the glue should be thoroughly dry before the fallboard is re-installed and the spring starts pulling and pushing on the leather.

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Jurgen Goering

Absolutely.

Every 40 years.
Ron N

------Original Message------

I think the use of hot hide or fish glue would be best because the leather will nee to be replaced again and again. Hot hide is very reworkable.

Don't make it difficult to rework, it might be you.

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Regards,

Jon Page
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