Epoxy Bridge Repair

Focus On: On-Site Epoxy Repair of the Upright Bass Bridge Loose bridge pins in the bass bridge of an upright piano caused by splits in the wood of the bridge may cause poor tone in the bass of an affected piano. The upper pins of the bass bridge serves as the lower termination points of the speaking lengths of the strings. When these termination points are not secure, unwanted rattles and buzzes are likely to cloud the tone of the affected note or notes. Fortunately, when the splitting is not too severe, an on-the-spot remedy is often possible by the use of a heavy paste epoxy to fill in the damaged area. Oftentimes, if enough time is allowed for, this repair may be made on the same day that the piano is tuned. The bass bridge pins of your piano are loose to the point where it is affecting the tone of the piano. To make epoxy repairs to the bass bridge of your piano, extra time will need to be scheduled ahead of your tuning appointment . Split-out holes are filled. New holes are drilled. The Piano Owner's Heads-Up Guide to Important Piano Maintenance With the bass strings temporarily re- moved from the bridge and bundled out of the way, the loose bridge pins will be pulled out completely so that the epoxy filler may be used. This epoxy cures rapidly as a result of the chemical reaction to the two compo- nents that are mixed together on the spot. Within a short amount of time, the hardened epoxy is ready to sand and drill for the rein- sertion of the bridge pins. After the holes are drilled and the pins replaced in the bridge, the bass strings are put back in place and brought up to tension. The end result is a much more reliable sound to the bass, without the annoyance of the buzzes and rattles that loose bridge pins tend to cause. - Jema Pianos