Mechanical Music Digest  Archives
You Are Not Logged In Login/Get New Account
Please Log In. Accounts are free!
Logged In users are granted additional features including a more current version of the Archives and a simplified process for submitting articles.
Home Archives Calendar Gallery Store Links Info
MMD > Archives > February 2010 > 2010.02.09 > 13Prev  Next


Cast Iron Frame for Lester Player Piano
By Rob Goodale

I've been a registered piano technician for 15 years and have rebuilt
many pianos.  Is your piano repairable?  Possibly.  There is a cold
repair method (non-welding) that works very well known as "metal
stitching".  The company you want to check out is "Lock N' Stitch"
http://www.locknstitch.com/ 

I've done it, it works.  Generally speaking this assumes that it is
a simple break.  In your case, however, with breaks in four different
places, you are rowing upstream in a leaky boat.  I wouldn't even
attempt to repair one in that kind of shape.

Welding cast Iron is very difficult.  It's high carbon content makes it
expand dramatically when heated and when it cools the stress is only
transferred to a different spot, encouraging it to break again, and
believe me they do.

There is one reliable means to weld a plate.  This involves heating the
entire plate evenly until it glows red in a special oven designed for
this purpose.  Then it can be welded hot so it won't expand in the
process.  The same company mentioned above performs this service but it
is very expensive.

On the other hand, if you should find another _exact_ plate from
another piano then that might be the best approach.  Remember, however,
that _something_ caused it to break -- it didn't break by itself.  If
someone dropped it during moving that's one thing, but if the cabinet
and back posts are warping and have distributed the tension some place
it shouldn't be, that's entirely another story.  First find out what
caused it.

Rob Goodale
Las Vegas, Nevada


(Message sent Wed 10 Feb 2010, 00:33:39 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Cast, Frame, Iron, Lester, Piano, Player

Home    Archives    Calendar    Gallery    Store    Links    Info   


Enter text below to search the MMD Website with Google



CONTACT FORM: Click HERE to write to the editor, or to post a message about Mechanical Musical Instruments to the MMD

Unless otherwise noted, all opinions are those of the individual authors and may not represent those of the editors. Compilation copyright 1995-2024 by Jody Kravitz.

Please read our Republication Policy before copying information from or creating links to this web site.

Click HERE to contact the webmaster regarding problems with the website.

Please support publication of the MMD by donating online

Please Support Publication of the MMD with your Generous Donation

Pay via PayPal

No PayPal account required

                                     
Translate This Page