Robert,
I agree with the above. Not the rebuilders fault (plus were talkin about a 120 year old piano....designed to last 50 years max?)
Humidity control system absolutely, and I would install the back cover as well. I would do this first and wait to see what happens. They may also want to run a room humidifier for ambient atmosphere (optional).
I would not hesitate to apply the CA if cost is part of the issue. If cost is not a factor, one COULD justify repinning (lots of work, not a lot of fun), but IF I were to go that route I would use Lo-torq dual diameter pins (my opinion only). And you may still find a need for limited CA work, depending on the severity of the situation.
I have seen similar situations (as have others) here in New England where it gets dry as the desert in winter and the piano goes crazy.
Edit: I just re-read and new pinblock. Hmmm...do we know for sure?
Pwg
------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-09-2019 08:38
From: David Estey
Subject: Failing 10 year old pinblock on restored upright
2.0 pins currently in the block?
are we sure the block was replaced?
Did we try installing a damp chaser to compensate for the dryness?
I just finished a job with a Yamaha Spinet - the pins were horribly loose. I gave two choices
1. restring it.
2. treat the block with thin ca and install a damp chaser.
she went with the treatment and damp chaser. The treatment worked great. Piano tilter, leave it sit for a couple of days and that could be an effective option to rebuilding it again.
------------------------------
David Estey, RPT
www.EsteyPiano.com
Piano Tuners Sales Tips for the week. FREE! Sign up here:
http://coolstuffformusicians.com/fine-tuning-your-salesmanship
Creating Harmony in a World filled with Discord.
1-800-ON A PIANO (662-7426)
dave@esteypiano.com
Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2019 16:19
From: Willem Blees
Subject: Failing 10 year old pinblock on restored upright
A pin block from Houston brought to New Mexico is going to dry out. Pin torque will be severely reduced. It's not the rebuilders fault that the customer moved to a dry climate.
The piano will I'll need to be repinning, but not restrung.
------------------------------
Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
Original Message:
Sent: 01-08-2019 15:32
From: Robert Rothschild
Subject: Failing 10 year old pinblock on restored upright
Hello all,
I recently met an 1895 Stieff upright that was in an unhappy way. Its owner was proud of the money he had put into its restoration 10 years ago (new pinblock, soundboard, strings, hammers... original wippens, stickers, etc...) but was concerned that it wasn't holding tune. The work had been done in Houston, and its subsequent move to dry Santa Fe a couple of years ago put an end to whatever torque the pins had to begin with. While it seems that restringing with fatter pins is the thing to do, I am trying to get a feel for how common this kind of failure is and if the client ought to try to get the rebuilder to do the work for some kind of discount, or if he should let bygones be bygones and move on. Any help is appreciated.
------------------------------
Robert Rothschild
Santa Fe NM
------------------------------