Key Button Replacement

[John Hartman]

Farrell wrote:
> I read John Hartman's March 2001 article on key button replacement. It does not appear that the article addresses how to accurately cut the oblong hole for the center rail pin. How do you do that?
> 
> I have searched high and low and cannot find the April 2001 issue that has the second half of the key button article. Does anyone have it that would be willing to scan it and email it to me? I would be forever grateful!
> 
> Terry Farrell
>   
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> 
> 

I decided to leave out how I make the buttons in the Journal article. My 
hope was that soon I would be able to market a basic kit with two 
symmetrical buttons to fit the old Steinways and mason & Hamlins as well 
as the jigs to position the buttons on the keys. This would make things 
easy for other technicians and maybe help to reimburse me for the effort 
of writing the article and creating the plans. I made drawings and sent 
them to a keyboard maker. The first sets were very good but soon 
problems with getting the off-set accurate enough crept in. I was unable 
to convince him that this was a problem. He also wanted to sell the 
buttons I designed independently. I have pretty much given up getting 
these made properly.

I have made many sets on my own but I think this is impractical for the 
occasional rebuilder. I had a set up with a drill press to create the 
mortises using metric end mills. It had a sliding table and a foot 
treadle to work the spindle up and down. I have abandoned this setup and 
am in the process of designing a custom over arm router. I don't think 
it would be worth  setting this up unless you are going to make keyboard 
as well.

Good sources for key buttons are: Pianotek, these are basswood, I used 
these early on. And, Roseland, they have maple buttons but you are still 
going to have to trim them to get the right off-set and round the ends 
as well.

John Hartman RPT

John Hartman Pianos
[link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]
Rebuilding Steinway and Mason & Hamlin
Grand Pianos Since 1979

Piano Technicians Journal
Journal Illustrator/Contributing Editor
[link redacted at request of site owner - Jul 25, 2015]