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I have a connection to somebody who is giving away an old 1904 piano if I'm willing to come haul it. Is there any salvage value to the sound board or anything else? Is it good for anything else other than making kerfing? There may also be some ivory involved. Is it worth it, or is there not enough salvagable parts?

John

I always wanted to do that. I want to make a hammered dulcimer with a solid spruce top, and it seems like a piano soundboard would have enough spruce for that. It may be a total waste of time though.

Hello John:
I was given an old piano about two years ago about the age you described. It was a mohagany veneer over maple and poplar with a spruce soundboard.
I took it apart and got some good stable maple for making different tools and jigs.
Also removed the ivory from the keys and the black keys were ebony.
The thing was built from 5/4 x 6" stock and some 4x4s all glued with hide glue. It wasn't easy to take apart and was very heavy so you may want to have plenty of help to move it around.

This one also had a lot of termite damage that couldn't be seen until the diss-assembly was started.

Would I do it again? Probably not.

Rob Busto (Paragon) made a ton of traingler kerfing from an old piano soundboard, we auctioned some here last month. I also bought a dozen strips my self, there very nice, and very light in weight and color.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I've been wondering what to do with the soundboard. It will go into kerfing. Thanks Lance

A friend offered me his out of tune, broken stringed upright. I helped him buy an electric keyboard for his son, who had a recent recital. We were going to chainsaw and sledgehammer it apart, but got delayed. I will post my findings when we do, and let you all know what I find....to be continued....

Daniel, what are the dimensions of the boards that make up the soundboard?

Eric, The soundboard on the one I took apart was made up of 4" wide x 3/8" thick (I think). I will have to go to the shop to make sure. They are put together diagonally so much of the material is wasted. It also had a large tone-bar attached with wood screws and hide glue, and about 10 or 12 1" x 1" x 30" scalloped braces.

There was some good material. Just about everything was quarter sawn and was very clear, close grained wood. It was just a booger to take apart.

But it was a good example of how good Hide Glue is.

Daniel

Eric, I checked the soundboard again today.
It was made up of 2", 3", and 4", strips and were 3/8" thick.

Daniel