Restoring gloss to plastic key tops

[Isaac OLEG]

You may sand (1200 grit on an orbital sander laying reverse) the keys
to get rid of the scratches, then buff them all together in a wooden
frame, when buffed one by one the edges tend to worn too much if you
are not very careful.

A good frame is very useful to avoid warping of the keys when you use
hot vapor to unglue the old bushings - some old keyboards really warp
a lot.

An electric drill is enough, no need to have a buffing machine (but
its better for sure)
You need choices between the compounds, depending of the material
used.


Greetings

Isaac OLEG

Entretien et réparation de pianos.

PianoTech
17 rue de Choisy
94400 VITRY sur SEINE
FRANCE
tel : 033 01 47 18 06 98
fax : 033 01 47 18 06 90
cell: 06 60 42 58 77

> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
> [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]De la
> part de Farrell
> Envoyé : lundi 5 mai 2003 03:37
> À : Pianotech
> Objet : Re: Restoring gloss to plastic keytops
>
>
> 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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