CAUT

  • 1.  Filling wood to redrill for lid hinges

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-18-2022 08:19
    Greetings,
    We need to fill and redrill the enlarged screw holes for a square grand lid. What's the current thinking on how to fill in the holes? Epoxy? Wood filler? Titebond?
    thanks!

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    Scott Cole, RPT
    rvpianotuner.com
    Talent, OR
    (541-601-9033
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  • 2.  RE: Filling wood to redrill for lid hinges

    Posted 04-18-2022 09:20
    For a deeper holes, I am inclined to use a leather strip impregnated with titebond or something similar. For a more shallow hole, I would suggest either filling with a strong resin, or with a wood plug. I differentiate between a dowel and a wood plug with regard to grain orientation. My strong resin of choice is thick CA glue, the screw being coated with a mold release then being sprayed with kicker, and inserted before the resin begins to set. An additional step might be to remove the screw after a couple of minutes and apply additional kicker to the hole. I would also use a mold release for the leather and glue option above.  For a mold release, I have used McLube, Prolube, Protek and TFL Dry. All of these are permanent repairs, and permit repeated extraction and insertion of the screw once the repair is complete.

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    Floyd Gadd
    Regina SK
    306-502-9103
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  • 3.  RE: Filling wood to redrill for lid hinges

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-19-2022 12:22

    Over the years I have had to repair a LOT of lid screw holes where the hinge screws were ripped out by poor movers.  The best method I found is a tapered hardwood plug kit, picture attached.  Unfortunately the handle doesn't have the company name, and after much searching I can't find it online! 

    It came with a tapered bit to use in a drill, or this hand tool with storage handle.  Procedure is to glue and clamp any splits in the rim, then when hard ream the screw holes with the tapered bit. Apply a little wood glue to the plug (it is not a dowel!) put it in the hole and spin it to spread the glue around, then give it a light tap with the back of the tool to set it tightly into the hole.

     

    When dry, cut the remaining plug off, sand smooth, and re-drill for the new screws.  I have used this on multiple Kawai EX pianos with very heavy lids used for concert loan, and have never had one fail again.

     

    Now, if only I could find out if anyone is still making this!! If anyone knows the company name, please post it.

     

     

    Don Mannino RPT

     






  • 4.  RE: Filling wood to redrill for lid hinges

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-19-2022 13:03
    Don,

    Isaac Sadigursky uses something like this to repair stripped screw holes in Steinway action rails.

    Isaac?

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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  • 5.  RE: Filling wood to redrill for lid hinges

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 04-19-2022 13:27
    Don,
    I have one of these. I’ll see if I can find a name on it.


    Regards,
    ~ jeannie

    Jeannie Grassi
    PTG Registered Piano Technician
    Bainbridge Island, WA
    206-842-3721
    grassipianos@gmail.com