keytop trimming (HELP!)

[Joe And Penny Goss]

Hi Greg,
Be sure to get one that you can get the key top sanded off. Some have a
shelf that keeps the key top from being able to be sanded easily.

Joe Goss
imatunr@srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: keytop trimming (HELP!)


> Joe,
>          I remember you mentioning your idea with a miter saw. planing or
> getting a good cut surface was not the problem but rather trimming once
the
> new top is glued on is. You are with everyone else on the 1" belt sander
> idea. That is what I will be doing as soon as I go buy one.
>
> Greg Newell
>
> At 07:48 PM 6/10/2002, you wrote:
> >Greg,
> >YES! see my site below for an idea.
> >If you would like to try it the plans are free. Only one item not
mentioned.
> >To do the shaping of the key top afer it has been glued on I use a belt
> >sander for everything but the notch.
> >For the notch a long piece of strap iron 1"x1/8"x48" is clamped to the
keys
> >( whites only ) with the keys on the balance rail. I then use a 3/8" file
to
> >do the notches. The file has no rough on the edges and is also on my page
> >below.
> >The strap iron keeps the notches square.
> >Joe Goss
> >imatunr@srvinet.com
> >www.mothergoosetools.com
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
> >To: <pianotech@ptg.org>; <mpt@talklist.net>
> >Sent: Monday, June 10, 2002 2:23 PM
> >Subject: keytop trimming (HELP!)
> >
> >
> > > Greetings listees,
> > >          I've been having consistent trouble in my endeavors to
replace
> > > keytops. I really wish to do a good job at this so if you could share
with
> > > me what you do I'd greatly appreciate it. I had tried the Peterson Jig
> > > using essentially two parallel rails to ride a router on and the key
is
> > > clamped beneath. The theory is that this will evenly trim the tops
down.
> > > Not So! After several sets of disasters that I did more than twice the
> >work
> > > on making them right, I have finally built Bill Spurlocks jigs to use
in
> > > conjunction with a rotary planer. This has been the ticket in the
planning
> > > department as I have never made a set of keys quite so even before.
> > >          Now I'm at the trimming stage and I am using another of
Bill's (I
> > > think) jigs where a piloted bit comes up through the center of the jig
> > > which is a ever so slightly tapered away from center and covered with
> >denim
> > > material to prevent scratches on the keytop. The key is inverted and
the
> > > pilot bearing rides against the side of the key and trims any
overhanging
> > > plastic. This is the part I'm having trouble with. It seems that
either
> >I'm
> > > not holding the key steady enough or there are some imperfections in
the
> > > key that I'm not seeing, or there's stuff on the table from the last
key.
> >I
> > > really don't know what it is but I'm not winding up with a straightly
> > > trimmed side. Can anyone suggest a different method of a different
jig?
> > > I've been thinking of a 1" belt sander as  trimmer. Anyone ever use
one of
> > > those for this purpose? Any and all ideas greatly appreciated. I'm so
> >happy
> > > with how the planing went I don't want to ruin this in the trimming
stage.
> > >
> > > Greg Newell
> > > mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
> > >
>
> Greg Newell
> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>