Pianotech

  • 1.  Gluing backcheck leather

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-28-2026 23:43
      |   view attached

    Applying hide glue to the leather strips and holding them to the backchecks made me feel klutzy, so I came up with this design on my 3d printer:

    image 
    image
    The radius is not quite what I wanted, but close enough, and I already printed 20 of them.
    Dab some glue, pull the leather with my right index/thumb, slide the caul on with the left, works great.
    I attached the .scad design and .stl if anyone's interested.
    -Jim


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    Jim Moy
    Moy Piano Service, LLC
    https://www.moypiano.com
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    Attachment(s)

    zip
    backcheck-holder.zip   3 KB 1 version


  • 2.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Posted 04-29-2026 00:31

    Bravo! I love this! 

    I think I need a 3D printer…



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    Vincent Chambers

    Apollo Piano | Stanford
    San Francisco, Chico CA
    (530) 924-4469 Mobile; 732-642-1100
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  • 3.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-30-2026 07:53
    Just curious about what piano this is. 
    I don't recall ever seeing upright backchecks on a grand. 


    --
    Dave Conte, RPT, CCT
    Owner, Rocky Top Piano
    Knoxville, TN
    817-307-5656





    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Member
    Posted 04-30-2026 08:28
    Hi,
    Sorry I can't help you regarding this piano manufacturer, but, these backchecks are on many(?) as I have recovered quite a few sets over the years. On this style the leather is glued down the face of the under-felt, often requiring replacement of both layers.
    Deb

    5 Tarr's Lane WEST
    Rockport, MA  01966
    978-546-8428




    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-30-2026 22:07

    It's a 1908 Baldwin M.



    ------------------------------
    Jim Moy
    Moy Piano Service, LLC
    http://www.moypiano.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Member
    Posted 04-29-2026 08:27
    Hi,

    Clever way to clamp the leather, particularly for this style backcheck. If you do a lot of backcheck recovering, you will find quite a variety of size and style that will require a different size and shape of clamp. Always new challenges!

    Deb 

    5 Tarr's Lane WEST
    Rockport, MA  01966
    978-546-8428





  • 7.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-30-2026 09:37

    Yes, typically one must glue the top and the bottom of the leather to wood under a tad of tension. This device certainly opens up the mind for thinking along this line (assuming one has a 3D printer or a friend with one, or a friend of a friend, or...)

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



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


  • 8.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-30-2026 22:18

    Or you can also find online services that will let you upload the design file and they'll print and mail them to you. Or put the file on a thumb drive and take it to your local library or maker space. 3d printers are all over the place now.



    ------------------------------
    Jim Moy
    Moy Piano Service, LLC
    http://www.moypiano.com
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Posted 05-01-2026 07:49
    Having an identifier printed on the piece would help in knowing what level they are in the future.
    Les Koltvedt
    (404) 631-7177
    LKPianos.com


    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Gluing backcheck leather

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-30-2026 22:14
      |   view attached

    Hi Deb, yes it occurred to me after I finished this set that the particular geometry may not match future work. So I cleaned up the .scad file and have posted here for future reference. It has constants defined for all the dimensions so it's easier to adapt than my original which I had kind of hacked up because I didn't know if it would be successful or not. I'm happy with it so will keep the ones I've printed, but I imagine I might end up with a set of different sizes. I'll store them in boxes right next to all the Spurlock cauls :-)



    ------------------------------
    Jim Moy
    Moy Piano Service, LLC
    http://www.moypiano.com
    ------------------------------

    Attachment(s)

    zip
    backcheck-holder.scad.zip   1 KB 1 version
    Original Message