![]() ![]() New agraffes are installed and the plate is re-lettered. The second coat is a combination of lacquer and bronzing powder, a mixture referred to as "gilding," which gives the plate its metallic gold color. The first coat of finish is a red oxide primer, which is applied and sanded to 320 grit. Initially the plate is inverted and a new pinblock is custom fit to the plate flange. Finally it is glued into the rim of the piano. Bridges are glued to the board and the final coats of finish are applied to the rib side. The bridges are introduced to the soundboard and the crown of the bridge is mated to the crown of the soundboard. At this point the edges of the soundboard are tapered using a hand plane and calipers so that it acts like a drum. Once the ribs are glued onto the board (using either hide glue or Balduc wood glue which dries glass-hard), the soundboard is then allowed to expand to 8% moisture content. ![]() The ribs are often pre-crowned to accommodate the arc established on the inner rim. They are shaped to fit the inner rim mortises and sculpted for optimum balance and sustain. If a piano warrants a new soundboard, a tightly-grained Eastern Spruce soundboard panel (at 5% moisture content) is fitted to the rim with the grain oriented in relationship to the rim. The board is sanded and finished with varnish. Most of the spruce shims used are from old soundboards of the same era. The cracks in the old soundboard are planed open and seasoned spruce is inlayed into the board. The glue joints are carefully inspected to ensure the soundboard is attached solidly all around the rim. The ribs are reattached to the soundboard where they have separated. This is necessary because of our dry Minnesota winter. If the existing soundboard requires repair work, the old finish is scraped off the top and the instrument is covered in pads, heated and dried down to 5% moisture content. Side-bearing and string spacing due to bridge pinning is noted. Down-bearing adjustments are measured before and after the piano is unstrung. Changes here may differ from factory positioning. Any changes in plate positioning here will affect the action later. The plate, or harp, position is measured within the case cavity. ![]() Belly work involves: Measurements and string removal ![]()
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