Get a good buffing wheel and go to it (Dremel just ain't going to get it - you need a 6" or 8" cloth wheel and compound - Pianotek and most hardward supplies have all that stuff). You can take old nasty scratched up plastic keytops and make them look like new in just a few seconds for each key. Terry Farrell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cy Shuster" <cy.shuster@theshusters.org> To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org> Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2003 6:52 PM Subject: Restoring gloss to plastic keytops I'm trying to clean and polish the plastic keytops on my 1923 5'8" Krakauer. They were replaced some time more than five years ago, and have the note name embossed at the tail. Following a search of the archives, I've successfully used 0000 steel wool to remove stubborn glued-on spots of what seems to be stain or varnish. However, this has completely deglossed the finish. Doesn't look bad, but very different to the rest. First attempts at buffing using the Dremel and a small cotton wheel (3/8") caused only melting of the top (fortunately, just at the hidden tail, where I started). I was surprised, because in the archives someone successfully used a 20,000 RPM device. The Dremel polishing kit came with some red rouge, said to give a "high gloss on metals and plastics", but it doesn't. I've tried buffing with a clean cotton wheel on a variable speed power drill, and at least it doesn't melt the plastic, but the gloss doesn't come back. Suggestions? Thanks... --Cy Shuster-- Rochester, MN
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