ivory grain

[Farrell]

Yes, I understand what you are describing. Very similar to a piece of yellow
pine that has been exposed to foot traffic or rain for many years. The dense
part of the rings (summer/fall wood) will persist, and the softer part of
the rings (fast growing spring wood) will erode away more quickly. One
thought on the ivory would be sandblasting. If the raised grain is due to
density contrasts, it may preferentially wear away the softer material. But
maybe it is something else???

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Love" <lovedg@hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2000 12:49 AM
Subject: Re: ivory grain


> Newton/Farrell:
>
> The wear idea seems to make sense except that the keyboard in question is
> uniformely grainy from top to bottom.  It is unlikely that the keyboard
> would have received uniform playing to accomplish such an effect.  Clearly
> the keytops were made that way. (Farrell:  I am not refering to cupping,
> that is something quite different).  However, the idea that some of the
> rings are softer makes sense and I wonder if the keytops aren't etched to
> break down the softer rings and, in effect, raise the grain.  This also
> suggests that a replacement keytop may not have the same consistency and
> therefore not respond in the same way to a new etch.  Any thoughts???
>
> David Love
>
>
> >From: nhunt@jagat.com (Newton Hunt)
> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >Subject: Re: ivory grain
> >Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2000 09:47:10 -0400
> >
> > >  I am wondering what the technique for doing this is.
> >
> >Play with it a lot.
> >
> >Raised grain is caused by different rings having softer
> >layers than others and the fingers wear the softer grains
> >than the harder ones.
> >
> >Good ivory comes from healthier elephants and have growth
> >rings of consistent density and hardness.
> >
> >So, find a soft ring ivory and play with it.
> >
> > Newton
> >
> >
>
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