keytops (Question)

[Tom Servinsky]

John,
What is the standard grained polyester keytop ? Are there any manufacturers
that you know of who are using them?
I'm trying visualize what they look and feel like.

By the way do you know if the ivorine that Yamaha uses on their high end
grands are available for purchase?
Tom Servinsky,RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Delacour" <JD@Pianomaker.co.uk>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, October 15, 2001 12:37 PM
Subject: Re: keytops (Question)


> At 09:26 15/10/01 +0200, Richard Brekne wrote:
>
> >I hear a lot of folks talking about using routing or sawing techniques in
some
> >way for removal of old key tops / fronts in preperation for renewal.
> >
> >I would like to hear a bit about why you all do this instead of using
some
> >form of heating up the the old keytops so as to "peel" off the old top /
front
> >material.
>
> Me too, Richard.  I've been reading this thread in amazement and feeling
> thankful that the Atlantic Ocean is likely to prevent me ever having to
> deal with one of these doctored keyboards.
>
>  From what I gather, it's not a question of removing the old coverings but
> of removing a thickness of wood under the covering so that the fat
stick-on
> key covers will not be higher than the original ivory or whatever.
>
> My first reaction is, what is the point of going to all this work in order
> to fit nasty fat acrylic key-covers when you can have the keys recovered
by
> a specialist in thinner sheet material, either grained celluloid or the
> latest industry standard grained polyester?
>
> Secondly, what difference is it going to make on many repair jobs if the
> wood of the sharps is a millimetre or less above the level of the woods of
> the naturals ads a result of raising the sharps to the new level?  The
> answer is virtually none, and if it's necessary to plane a mm. off a grand
> fall to accomodate the fat key-tops, that's not the end of the world
> either.  If you're going to use these dreadful key-tops to start with, why
> balk at removing a tiny amount from the fall, which can easily be built up
> in the future if necessary.  Nonew of this would be necessary if the keys
> are properly recovered.
>
> Many years ago, when I could not trust the specialist firms to do a good
> job, I did sometimes use moulded sets of covers, and if it was a hight
> class job, I would remove the ebony sharps and raise these using a couple
> of thicknesses of walnut veneer to keep the wooden tops level.  To prise
> off 36 ebonies and raise them is very quickly done and there is no damage
> to the keyboard.
>
> Nowadays I wouldn't consider using moulded tops.  Either I recover the
keys
> myself in sheet stock or I send them to Kluge or a very good English organ
> keyboard firm, and have them beautifully done in polyester sheet.
>
> This routing and planing business is about the wildest thing I've read on
> this list in the past few weeks, and I've been reading some pretty wild
things!
>
> JD
>