Steinway D Bridge Work

This week I have completed installing new bridge caps on the original bridge body. The first step was to remove the old caps using a table saw. The process is a bit more complicated that normal, as the treble bridge and bass bridge are one piece, rather than 2 separate pieces. After the old caps are removed the top is planed and new hard maple caps are glued to the original body.

The next step is setting the bearing. That involves determining the correct thickness of the bridge cap to accommodate proper down bearing on the soundboard after the piano is string. After the proper thickness is determined, the top is planed to that thickness. The final steps are to drill the new holes for the bridge pins and to hand notch the edges. Finally new bridge pins are installed to the cap.

The completed bridges are glued to the soundboard, and the bridge is doweled throughout the ribs into the bridge.