Pianotech

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

I agree with Wim . Thin CA glue on all of the pins and maybe two or three passes on the loose ones. Look up on the underide of the pinblock with the action out and use a mirror or the selfie setting on your Iphone./Ipad if you have one . Turning out the pins-fugetaboutit 

A torque wrench will tell you alot about the condition of the pinblock but if the coils are on the plate its not a good sign . You can try brushing the coils with a brass brush and using a little protek on them. may want to brush the strings at the bridge pins. Go flat first to let down some tension. No one can predict when a string will break- they decide

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Thanks, Wm.  Can I infer from your response that there's no need for concern regarding the CA accumulating around the coil?  i.e. Can I assume that the CA will soak into the block without damage to the coils?  (If I remember correctly this is an open-face block.)

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Thanks, Wm.  Can I infer from your response that there's no need for concern regarding the CA accumulating around the coil?  i.e. Can I assume that the CA will soak into the block without damage to the coils?  (If I remember correctly this is an open-face block.)

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Not possible.   Coils are driven down tightly against the block.

Thanks, Wm.  Can I infer from your response that there's no need for concern regarding the CA accumulating around the coil?  i.e. Can I assume that the CA will soak into the block without damage to the coils?  (If I remember correctly this is an open-face block.)

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Not possible.   Coils are driven down tightly against the block.

Thanks, Wm.  Can I infer from your response that there's no need for concern regarding the CA accumulating around the coil?  i.e. Can I assume that the CA will soak into the block without damage to the coils?  (If I remember correctly this is an open-face block.)

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Not possible.   Coils are driven down tightly against the block.

Thanks, Wm.  Can I infer from your response that there's no need for concern regarding the CA accumulating around the coil?  i.e. Can I assume that the CA will soak into the block without damage to the coils?  (If I remember correctly this is an open-face block.)

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Thanks, Wm.  Can I infer from your response that there's no need for concern regarding the CA accumulating around the coil?  i.e. Can I assume that the CA will soak into the block without damage to the coils?  (If I remember correctly this is an open-face block.)

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

That is, to say:  It's not possible to access where the pin exits the block without backing the pins out a bit, as the coils are driven tightly against the block; thereby blocking access to the base of the pin. 

Thanks, Wm.  Can I infer from your response that there's no need for concern regarding the CA accumulating around the coil?  i.e. Can I assume that the CA will soak into the block without damage to the coils?  (If I remember correctly this is an open-face block.)

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

This sounds like a last, worst case situation. I would avoid anything that could destabilize the piano. Don't back off the pitch, and don't go after a big pitch raise. Tune the piano at its current pitch.

Suppose you just put a drop or two of CA at the base of the coil where it's tight to the block? Perhaps it goes into the block, or perhaps it just tacks the coil to the surface of the block. CA will not hurt the string coil. 

That may be enough to hold the pin. You may have to do this every time you tune the piano (if there is ever a next time.)

That is, to say:  It's not possible to access where the pin exits the block without backing the pins out a bit, as the coils are driven tightly against the block; thereby blocking access to the base of the pin. 

Thanks, Wm.  Can I infer from your response that there's no need for concern regarding the CA accumulating around the coil?  i.e. Can I assume that the CA will soak into the block without damage to the coils?  (If I remember correctly this is an open-face block.)

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?) 

Working on an old Ahlstrom Grand (s/n unknown).   Pins have been driven down with coils against the block.  Several not holding at this point.  Reluctant to try oversized pins due to the overall condition of the piano (suspect we may have some cracks).   Client is elderly and in poor health, so not interested in a partial rebuild.  The only thing I can think of trying is to back the pins out a bit and CA them in the hopes it will hold.  (And that the old strings don't break in the process.)    Am I missing anything here?  Any other (economical) options?   What are my chances of getting out of this without string breakage?   (Any predictions?)