Pianotech

While we're on the subject of Wurlitzer issues....

This Wurlitzer console from the 60s is in quite nice condition, but has a problem I'm sure many of you have seen before: an action bolt has sheared off. From peering into the hole that goes through the plate, this is what I think is the situation:
1. The tip of the original screw broke off in the wood behind the plate--you can see a tiny metal tip protruding from the wood.
2. Someone drilled a new hole for a new screw, but because it had to be a slightly different angle (there was screw left in the original hole), it put stress on the new screw, which broke eventually as well. (The end of the new screw is NOT stuck in there luckily--both pieces are out of the piano.)

I don't see a practical way to drill a new hole behind the plate for a screw of the same length. 

So I'd like to find a way to secure a new screw. Here's my idea so far:
1. With the piano on its back, fill the pass-through plate hole for the screw with epoxy.
2. Drill a load-bearing hole in the epoxy plug at the correct angle (measured at about 3º from the other screws).
3. Secure a screw just long enough to grab into the epoxy plug.

Does this seem likely to work? Will any epoxy work? Any other suggestions?
thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

I've replaced them with TimberLock screws

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
http://www.pianocapecod.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 12:12
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

While we're on the subject of Wurlitzer issues....

This Wurlitzer console from the 60s is in quite nice condition, but has a problem I'm sure many of you have seen before: an action bolt has sheared off. From peering into the hole that goes through the plate, this is what I think is the situation:
1. The tip of the original screw broke off in the wood behind the plate--you can see a tiny metal tip protruding from the wood.
2. Someone drilled a new hole for a new screw, but because it had to be a slightly different angle (there was screw left in the original hole), it put stress on the new screw, which broke eventually as well. (The end of the new screw is NOT stuck in there luckily--both pieces are out of the piano.)

I don't see a practical way to drill a new hole behind the plate for a screw of the same length.

So I'd like to find a way to secure a new screw. Here's my idea so far:
1. With the piano on its back, fill the pass-through plate hole for the screw with epoxy.
2. Drill a load-bearing hole in the epoxy plug at the correct angle (measured at about 3º from the other screws).
3. Secure a screw just long enough to grab into the epoxy plug.

Does this seem likely to work? Will any epoxy work? Any other suggestions?
thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Scott, that's pretty bad luck for a screw to break like that twice. 
It's an interesting solution to make a plug like that but I wonder if a wood plug might have a better chance of success. Perhaps using pin block material. If I was going to use epoxy, I would add in chopped fiberglass; I would also be concerned about the epoxy draining out between the plate and the pin block.
Do you think you could fill in the second hole and then drill out the pin block including the broken screw with a cobalt bit then plug and redrill? Even if you only got in 3/4" it would help hold in the plug.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal
Honolulu HI
808-521-7129
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 12:19
From: Jon Page
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

I've replaced them with TimberLock screws

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 12:12
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

While we're on the subject of Wurlitzer issues....

This Wurlitzer console from the 60s is in quite nice condition, but has a problem I'm sure many of you have seen before: an action bolt has sheared off. From peering into the hole that goes through the plate, this is what I think is the situation:
1. The tip of the original screw broke off in the wood behind the plate--you can see a tiny metal tip protruding from the wood.
2. Someone drilled a new hole for a new screw, but because it had to be a slightly different angle (there was screw left in the original hole), it put stress on the new screw, which broke eventually as well. (The end of the new screw is NOT stuck in there luckily--both pieces are out of the piano.)

I don't see a practical way to drill a new hole behind the plate for a screw of the same length.

So I'd like to find a way to secure a new screw. Here's my idea so far:
1. With the piano on its back, fill the pass-through plate hole for the screw with epoxy.
2. Drill a load-bearing hole in the epoxy plug at the correct angle (measured at about 3º from the other screws).
3. Secure a screw just long enough to grab into the epoxy plug.

Does this seem likely to work? Will any epoxy work? Any other suggestions?
thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

Don't know if Schaff still carries special screw extractor. Page 39 number 74

------------------------------
Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 16:25
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

Scott, that's pretty bad luck for a screw to break like that twice.
It's an interesting solution to make a plug like that but I wonder if a wood plug might have a better chance of success. Perhaps using pin block material. If I was going to use epoxy, I would add in chopped fiberglass; I would also be concerned about the epoxy draining out between the plate and the pin block.
Do you think you could fill in the second hole and then drill out the pin block including the broken screw with a cobalt bit then plug and redrill? Even if you only got in 3/4" it would help hold in the plug.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal
Honolulu HI
808-521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 12:19
From: Jon Page
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

I've replaced them with TimberLock screws

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 12:12
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

While we're on the subject of Wurlitzer issues....

This Wurlitzer console from the 60s is in quite nice condition, but has a problem I'm sure many of you have seen before: an action bolt has sheared off. From peering into the hole that goes through the plate, this is what I think is the situation:
1. The tip of the original screw broke off in the wood behind the plate--you can see a tiny metal tip protruding from the wood.
2. Someone drilled a new hole for a new screw, but because it had to be a slightly different angle (there was screw left in the original hole), it put stress on the new screw, which broke eventually as well. (The end of the new screw is NOT stuck in there luckily--both pieces are out of the piano.)

I don't see a practical way to drill a new hole behind the plate for a screw of the same length.

So I'd like to find a way to secure a new screw. Here's my idea so far:
1. With the piano on its back, fill the pass-through plate hole for the screw with epoxy.
2. Drill a load-bearing hole in the epoxy plug at the correct angle (measured at about 3º from the other screws).
3. Secure a screw just long enough to grab into the epoxy plug.

Does this seem likely to work? Will any epoxy work? Any other suggestions?
thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------

I used lag bolts as the replacement. Much stronger than screws and you use a socket to remove. So much easier. My hardware store had the diameter and length
I was lucky to be able to grab the end of the screw with needle nose pliers and it came out.  
Drill the plate out to 5/8 or 9/16. Most drills will cut that. 
Get a 1/2 inch hole saw. The 1/2 inch chuck on a drill will grab it. Otherwise you need a broken pilot bit in the hole saw to turn the saw
Without the pilot bit, drill into the wood around the screws. Bust out the plug with whatever works. Glue in a plug and drill.
Sometimes drilling around the screws with a small bit works but don't break the bit because it is harder than what's there. I know from experience it's not good.

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
209-770-4312
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 18:25
From: Larry Messerly
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

Don't know if Schaff still carries special screw extractor. Page 39 number 74

------------------------------
Larry Messerly, RPT
Bringing Harmony to Homes
www.lacrossepianotuning.com
ljmesserly@gmail.com
928-899-7292

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 16:25
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

Scott, that's pretty bad luck for a screw to break like that twice.
It's an interesting solution to make a plug like that but I wonder if a wood plug might have a better chance of success. Perhaps using pin block material. If I was going to use epoxy, I would add in chopped fiberglass; I would also be concerned about the epoxy draining out between the plate and the pin block.
Do you think you could fill in the second hole and then drill out the pin block including the broken screw with a cobalt bit then plug and redrill? Even if you only got in 3/4" it would help hold in the plug.

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal
Honolulu HI
808-521-7129

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 12:19
From: Jon Page
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

I've replaced them with TimberLock screws

------------------------------
Regards,

Jon Page
mailto:jonpage@pianocapecod.com
http://www.pianocapecod.com

Original Message:
Sent: 11-03-2019 12:12
From: Scott Cole
Subject: Wurlitzer--broken screw

While we're on the subject of Wurlitzer issues....

This Wurlitzer console from the 60s is in quite nice condition, but has a problem I'm sure many of you have seen before: an action bolt has sheared off. From peering into the hole that goes through the plate, this is what I think is the situation:
1. The tip of the original screw broke off in the wood behind the plate--you can see a tiny metal tip protruding from the wood.
2. Someone drilled a new hole for a new screw, but because it had to be a slightly different angle (there was screw left in the original hole), it put stress on the new screw, which broke eventually as well. (The end of the new screw is NOT stuck in there luckily--both pieces are out of the piano.)

I don't see a practical way to drill a new hole behind the plate for a screw of the same length.

So I'd like to find a way to secure a new screw. Here's my idea so far:
1. With the piano on its back, fill the pass-through plate hole for the screw with epoxy.
2. Drill a load-bearing hole in the epoxy plug at the correct angle (measured at about 3º from the other screws).
3. Secure a screw just long enough to grab into the epoxy plug.

Does this seem likely to work? Will any epoxy work? Any other suggestions?
thanks!

------------------------------
Scott Cole, RPT
rvpianotuner.com
Talent, OR
(541-601-9033
------------------------------