Pianotech

  • 1.  Adhesive Choice - Full Fit Pinblock

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2023 12:46

    By end of day I hope to have the new pinblock glued into our 1893 Steinway A1.  The Graham/Brooks article in the October 1991 journal recommends thickened epoxy, and I have immediate access to that option.  A trusted colleague nearby uses Bolduc glue, but I do not have that within my reach.  Searching this forum with "pinblock +glue -CA" doesn't bring up anything particularly enlightening.  Other adhesives immediately at hand are Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Glue and Titebond Quick 'n Thick, neither of which strike me as particularly heroic options.  I'm sure I can scare up other products at local vendors.

    Any words of wisdom before I get underway?



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    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
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  • 2.  RE: Adhesive Choice - Full Fit Pinblock

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2023 15:50

    Well, thickened epoxy it is.  If one of my successors gets ticked off at me after another 130 years passes, I'll just consider it not my problem.



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    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
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  • 3.  RE: Adhesive Choice - Full Fit Pinblock

    Posted 10-19-2023 16:11
    I use titebond 50 and dowels when installing a Steinway pinblock.

    -chris




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Adhesive Choice - Full Fit Pinblock

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2023 16:36

    Thank you, Chris,

    I am doweling it in, but did end up using WEST System Epoxy, thickened with colloidal silica.  It turned out to be quite convenient to handle.



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    Floyd Gadd RPT
    Regina SK
    (306) 502-9103
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Adhesive Choice - Full Fit Pinblock

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-20-2023 23:44

    I use thickened West system for fitting the flange after fitting it as well as possible with woodworking. A belt and suspenders approach. I use Titebond III to glue  the block to the case and stretcher. It's as easy to reverse as hide glue releasing at about 135 degrees Farenheit.  I dowel in the ends like the original but honestly can't justify why.



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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Adhesive Choice - Full Fit Pinblock

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2023 21:54

    I'm bullish on the use of thickened epoxy, and for fitting to the plate flange as well (coat the flange with a heavy paste wax to prevent adhesion).

    Ron Nossaman had a nice approach though. Cut the block on the flange side at an angle so it meets flush with the stretcher on top but leaves a gap of, say, 1/4" on the bottom side. Once secured, insert thin, glue coated wedges to fill that gap between the block and the stretcher and when dry trim them flush, perhaps with a multi-tool. 



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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Adhesive Choice - Full Fit Pinblock

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-19-2023 22:23

    I like DexterHysol black for plate flange,  blind dowels for stretcher and ends glued with Bolduc.  Use wax paper or release agent for plate flange.



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    Parker Leigh RPT
    Winchester VA
    (540) 722-3865
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Adhesive Choice - Full Fit Pinblock

    Posted 10-19-2023 20:52
    I am using pouring epoxy , 2 components and mix it with Durham’s Rock Hard Water Putty to like soft butter viscosity. After hardening it is like rock.

    Alexander Brusilovsky