Ivory replacement

[Chris Gregg]

David,
        I use the instructions that come with the ABSCO wafers.
        "Prepare work same as for liquid glue.  Immerse sheet glue in water
half a minute and apply to wood.   Place ivory then apply plate as hot as
possible to handle with fingers and draw up the clamp.  Allow 30 to 45
minutes to dry.  Plate may be heated with a spirit lamp after applying to
the work if desired" 
        I use one of those mini propane torches instead of the spirit lamp
for heating the plate for about ten seconds , just long enough for the glue
to start to flow, and then tighten the clamp again.  Works great and there
is no need to leave the clamp on for 24 hours.

Chris Gregg
--------
> From: Vanderhoofven <dkvander@clandjop.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Ivory replacement
> Date: Saturday, April 04, 1998 1:25 PM
> 
> Dear Friends,
> 
> I am replacing some ivory head and tail pieces, using ivory wafers (glue
> impregnated cloth pieces) and the brass pieces with clamps.
> 
> Art Reblitz' book "Piano Servicing, Tuning and Rebuilding" (Second
Edition)
> gives the procedure.  Prepare the surface of the key, and the underside
of
> the ivory.  Take the brass plates and heat them in boiling water.  Dip
the
> ivory wafer in water, apply it to the surface of the key, position the
> ivory piece on top of the ivory wafer.  Take the brass plate out of the
> boiling water, put it on top of the ivory, and clamp it.  When the glue
has
> dried, take the clamp and brass plate off.  Then finish the edges, sand
the
> ivory pieces so they are level, and then buff and polish the keytops.
> 
> So far, so good.
> 
> Three Questions:
> 1.  How long do you need to dip the ivory wafer in water?  Just dip it
in
> and out of the water?  Or leave it in the water for 10 seconds?  30
seconds?
> 
> 2.  How long do you need to leave the brass plates and clamps on the
ivory
> before removing them?  The brass plates cool down in an hour or so.  But
> the  ivories warped at the edges (evidently some moisture remained in
the
> ivory).  Do I leave the brass clamps on 4 hours?  8 hours?  24 hours?
> 
> 3.  Someone mentioned the possibility of reactivating the glue on the
old
> ivory wafers.  Is this fact or fiction?  I am charging a goodly amount
of
> money to do this job, and I don't want to have to come back in a year
and
> reglue a bunch of loose ivories that popped off, if I opt to reuse the
old
> wafers again.  Please describe the procedure.
> 
> Thanks Muchly!
> 
> David
> 
> David A. Vanderhoofven, RPT
> #pianotech page:  
> http://www.clandjop.com/~dkvander/ircpiano.html
> 
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