Since the end felts end up the same width as the keys, I haven't really had any rubbing issues, at least with the better made vintage keyboards. Obviously if there are rubbing keys ends than there will be rubbing end felts as well. Before I started using the longer blade (I used to use a single edged razor blade) and cutting from the top down I sometimes had slight problems because the sides of the felts weren't always parallel with the key sides. They sometimes therefore ended up a bit wider or narrower at the top than on the bottom. A little extra trimming took care of these but the results weren't as neat in appearance. - Mark Dierauf -----Original Message----- From: David Ilvedson [mailto:ilvey at sbcglobal.net] Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 6:36 PM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: RE: Installing new key end felts My only comment is does the key felt rub against their neighbors? I think I'd prefer slightly narrower than the key... David Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, CA 94044 ----- Original message ---------------------------------------- From: "Mark Dierauf" <pianotech at nhpianos.com> To: Pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org> Received: 8/5/2006 12:00:49 PM Subject: Installing new key end felts > >Not long ago there was some list discussion about this particular job, >and since I just finished doing a set I thought I'd post these pics with >a short description. >I glue the felt on with hide glue in strips that cover about one section >at a time, with a little extra to overhang the end keys by at least 1/8" >or so. I don't clamp the keys together, but just press them tightly >together before gluing, using straightedges to carefully align the keys >fore and aft. I apply the glue only to the felt, not to the keysticks. I >use lengths of thin wood strips on top of the felt to apply even >pressure with two or three large spring clamps, and clamp each section >down to the edge of my work bench. >I let the glue set overnight, and then slice the keys apart using a long >blade in a large X-acto handle, aligning the blade by starting the cut >well inboard of the felt - I think this shows clearly in the second >picture. I get a nice clean cut that is flush with the key sides, except >for the 1/8" overhang on the end keys of each section. For these, I turn >the key over onto a scrap block of wood and slice down with the blade >flush against the side of the key. >I'm sure many or most of you figured this out long ago, but it was >apparent from the previous posts that some people were pre-cutting the >felt and glueing them on individually, and I believe that this way, or >some variation of it, gives much better results in less time. >- Mark Dierauf
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