jig for keytops

[Mark Story]

Hi Paul,

I had considered the top of the key as well, but like you haven't found a
way to implement it. The biggest obstacle is that you need to allow for the
button and backcheck (on grands). Another problem is that occasionally you
have a set that has been recovered before poorly. In this case you would be
copying the original problem. I haven't had too much of a problem with keys
twisting on old pianos. I have seen a couple of late model Korean or Chinese
built pianos with twisted keys, but I'm not about to try and recover these.
They need replacing.

Mark Story, RPT
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul McCloud" <smccloud@ix.netcom.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 9:59 PM
Subject: Re: jig for keytops


> I have this planer also, and have used it with my own version of a key
> jig.  The photo shows a very large radial press, which is much bigger
> than our table top drill press.  I used a vise from Sears which has a
> special handle to tighten the jaws.  I used this to hold the key while
> planing the top.  I mounted a piece of flat ply on the press table, and
> slide the key under the planer in the vise.
>     My problem has been that the keys often have some twist in them, so
> the bottom of the key isn't flat, and the top gets planed at an angle,
> and the keyfronts lay at an angle.  YIKES!.  What I would like to see is
> some way of using the original keytop to set the planing surface on the
> machine.  What I would envision is sort of like using a jointer (key
> upside down).  The original plane of the keytop is the best reference to
> use, since it doesn't rely on the other surfaces of the key.  Any ideas?
>
>     Paul McCloud
>