Installing A Piano Soundboard - Steinway Model B

[Grigor99]

Nice owrk. I'm surprised that you do not use "pipe clamps" as they are able to exert much more pressure to secure a tight glue joint than the regular bar clamps. Also, I noticed you may have been using regular wood glue(maybe waterproof). I have always understood that it may not be the best acoustic glue since it technically does not cure to a brittle hardness and thus can be subject to "creep" It makes a VERY string glue joint, but supposedly is not the best for helping to reflect sound.

[PianoWorksAtlanta]

@Grigor99 Pipe clamps are not entirely suited for this application. While they do not deflect as much as the bar clamps under full pressure, being hand tightened, they exert equivalent pressure. Once the piano is strung, the whole system is under pressure, "creep" is a non-factor - its more about the fit for acoustic properties as there is a physical connection to the rim via the board and ribs, not just a glued joint. Here, it is about specific application, not theoretical properties.

[Grigor99]

@PianoWorksAtlanta I understand your point. My perspective is derived from my conversations with Dave and Wil Snyder of Robisonia PA. They maintained that regular wood glue is not an optimal glue for acoustic instruments but is easier to work with than hide glue. I always used Plastic resin glue which dries as hard as hide glue but much easier to work with. I do think that as long as you have a very good fit for a board, the bar clamps should be sufficient, I just always preferred bar clamps.