Tribute to my dearest mentor Mr. David Betts (1947-2022) who taught us true craftsmanship and who showed us how to be a human being We use a router to cut from bottom of pinblock. Mr. David Betts called this thing widow maker. I do express my deep gratitude to Mr. Router before operating him. Hold router firmly with two hands , turn it on by thumb while holding handles tightly, at bass of piano, let the metal plate rise against stretcher straight up, cut upwards till baring hits the bottom of stretcher. Move slowly to treble. When the right side handle hits treble end of piano, move router straight down, turn it off with thumb while holding handles tightly. Hold it till the blade stops spinning completely. Use a sawzall to cut two end of pinblock, 3" from the case. Remove main part of pinblock with a heavy hammer. Drill out dowels that were fastening the block to case. Remove the remaining chunk of pinblock with large chisel and hammer, layer by layer. Do not try to take off too much wood each time, it is not only harder to do, but also causes damages to tools, piano case, or people. The leftover veneer on stretcher can be removed mostly by chisel if old glue is not rigid and easy to peel off. If the old glue is stubborn, soak this layer of veneer with hot water and rag, chisel off when soft. Finally, as always, clean and resharpen tools. You live in us, David, forever and ever and ever and ever...... Pictures taken 2016 at North Bennet Street School, Boston MA.
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