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Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

  • 1.  Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-06-2025 09:53

    I am wondering what some of you rebuilders do to make sure the plate finish doesn't chip while fastening the newly refinished plate back into the piano?



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    Tim Foster RPT
    New Oxford PA
    (470) 231-6074
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  • 2.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Posted 03-06-2025 11:56

    This problem is avoided by choosing the correct product and applying it properly.



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    Chernobieff Piano Restorations

    Inventor of Inertia Touch Wave (ITW)
    Advanced Resonant Compression Engineered Soundboards (ARCHES)

    865-986-7720 (text only please)
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-06-2025 12:18
    Use the right tool. Protect the finish with a cloth or cardboard. Be careful and go slow. 





  • 4.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-06-2025 15:01

    Keep your finish as thin as possible. Be sure to have a correctly fitting screwdriver.



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    Parker Leigh RPT
    Winchester VA
    (540) 722-3865
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  • 5.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-06-2025 19:41

    Also, have exact touch up paint ready. It will be indistinguishable. 

    I find most of the problem occurs right when the bolt contacts the plate. The bolt itself doesn't get messed up, but the plate does where the bolt turns on it. Once or twice I have added a washer to the mix to remedy it. Now I just touch it up.

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-06-2025 21:33

    Countersinking your bolt holes also helps.



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


  • 7.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-07-2025 01:19

    What part of the plate are you talking about?



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    David Love RPT
    www.davidlovepianos.com
    davidlovepianos@comcast.net
    415 407 8320
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  • 8.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-07-2025 03:29

    I think we are talking about the point where the bottom of the bolt or top bottom of the screw makes contact with the plate. Helps to keep finish thin are to lightly

    countersink the plate hole.



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


  • 9.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-07-2025 08:33

    That's right, especially the plate perimeter.



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    Tim Foster RPT
    New Oxford PA
    (470) 231-6074
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Fastening plate bolts without damaging finish

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-07-2025 08:53

    Tim,

    First, I always used the "Pianotek" plate perimeter bolts. The underside of the bolt head is presumably designed to minimize finish damage. Then, I punched out circles of masking tape slightly smaller than the underside of the lag bolt head (I'm thinking either 5/8" or 3/4") and placed them concentrically on all the plate bosses before spraying the plate. This way when the underside of the head tightened down on the plate, if there was to be any crushing it occurred on the plate's original finish and not my new one. This worked perfectly.

    David G. Hughes, RPT 



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    David Hughes RPT
    Vintage Case Parts
    Glyndon MD
    (443) 522-2201
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