> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 21:27:09 -0400 (EDT) > From: Les Smith <lessmith@buffnet.net> > Subject: Re: Replacing keytops > To: pianotech@byu.edu > Reply-to: pianotech@byu.edu Ditto that! I have considered a router ala Spurlock's article in the Journal but have a bit of fear for the blade... ilvey Pacifica, CA > Jon: > > Personally, I can't imagine trimming keytops with anything but a 1" > belt sander. (One with a provision for dust collection) It does 95% > of the work, leaving only a small about of by-hand finishing necessary. > > Les Smith > lessmith@buffnet.net > > On Wed, 30 Apr 1997, Jon Page wrote: > > > Sam, List: > > I'd be interested in other's procedures and some input on mine. > > > > To start with I measure the overall height of the original and remove old > > top (heat if nec.). > > Next, I plane the surface. On a drill press, I use a plunge router bit(*) as > > it has cutting surfaces > > on the bottom for a clean surface. The key is clamped in a drill press vice, > > set the depth of > > cut to maintain the original dimension with new material and passed under > > the bit. Testing > > squareness. A stop allows a square cut at the back length of the tail for an > > inlaid look. > > (What I don't like about key machines I've seen is the blade kerf in the key > > beyond the plastic). > > The new keytop is the same height above keystick as original ivory. PVC-E, > > no clamps. > > > > I don't trust myself with belt sanders for trimming, so I hand file and fit > > tail notches to sharps. > > Takes time but it comes out nice. Where's a trimming machine? > > > > The one thing I don't like is the letters embossed on the key, >input on > > removal - filing, > > sanding, etc< or where is there material (moulded) without the idiot proof > > markings. > > (C & E tails are wider than B's & F's). > > > > Thanks, > > Jon Page > > Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net) > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > (*) Woodworker's Supply 800-645-9292 3/4" #818809 > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > Jon Page > > Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. (jpage@capecod.net) > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > > > > >
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