• Shop the Store
  • Best Sellers
  • eBooks
  • Books
  • Plans

  • Videos
  • Tools & Workshops
  • SketchUp

  • Finishing
  • Turning
  • Joinery
• Books
• Plans
• Videos
• Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Give a gift

  • Current Issue
  • Digital Issue
  • Online Extras

  • Magazine Index
  • Contact Us
• Subscribe
• Renew

• Blogs
• Knots
• Gallery

The Woodworking Life

Bending Wood and Stretching Strings

Ed Pirnik, Senior Web Producer

7 users recommend

Add Comment
Print

OK, confession time - I was that kid in grade school who constantly found himself in trouble for disassembling any number of objects. Stereos, lawn mowers, televisions - if I had a desire to understand how something worked, to get a feel for what made it tick, I took it apart. For the most part, I was usually able to reassemble that which my hands had undone, but . . . there were exceptions (unfortunately).

One object in our home that even my hands couldn't tackle was my mother's piano. So when author James Barron came out with a book aptly titled "Piano: The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand," I was immediately hooked. The book takes you behind the scenes at the Steinway factory in Queens, New York as a team of cabinet makers and other artisans produce concert grand number KO862.

I devoured the book when it came out in the Summer of 2006 but never realized that a feature length documentary film was also in the works at about the same time that Barron's book came on the scene.

In "Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037," director Ben Niles takes you through the entire process - from start to finish. Everything is covered - from the initial wood selection, to bending the piano's signature outer rim in the workshop. It's a must see for music lovers and woodworkers alike!

Not into actually tickling the ivories? Not a problem - have a look at reader Terry Schneider's conversion of a piano into a tool chest.

Add Comment Print

The Brese Small Smoother Kit - Final Build Session

Back to List

Splittin' Cane

Comments (1)

JHMurphy writes: Wow. Thanks for sharing. The book looks like something I would devour as well. I will have to track down the movie. In the meantime, the website for the movie is simply one of the best websites I've ever seen. Watch a few of the trailers and click on the 'Characters' tab to see why. http://www.notebynotethemovie.com/

Thanks again!

I similarly enjoyed Wooden Boats by Michael Ruhlman about the building of classic wooden boats.
Posted: 6:10 pm on June 26th

You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.