Key flexing, was "Inertia," was "Grand Touch"

[Dean May]

Ron,

Are the button and top plate two pieces or one? If they are two why not make
it just one and do a gradual taper all the way to the end of the top plate.
I suspect you would pick up some additional stiffness.

Since the top of the key is in tension I would think you get much more
strain reduction by stiffening the top.

Dean



-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Ron Nossaman
Sent: Sunday, July 16, 2006 3:44 PM
To: Pianotech
Subject: Re: Key flexing, was "Inertia," was "Grand Touch"



> Ron-
> So if the top stiffener is already done, would you say don't bother with
pulling the dowels and adding a bottom plate?  

I did the top plate and long button (poplar) on a D action, 
and it stiffened the keys enough that I didn't bother with the 
shoe. See photo.


>Given the choice of one or the other, do you think the top plate adds more
stiffness than the bottom?

I'm not really sure. My decision was based on whether or not I 
was intending to replace the buttons on these two actions. The 
D's buttons needed replaced, the B's didn't. Next time, I'll 
have to deflection test them right side up, and upside down to 
see if there's a difference.


> Man, it was a lot easier back when we just banged our chests and hooted.
> Ed

Doesn't work that way any more. People will either criticize 
your pounding technique, lecture you on how your chest will go 
flat if you keep that up, tell you you're not hooting the 
right things, or not believe you're capable of banging and 
hooting at all until you've done it for them personally.

Well heck, now I think I've gone and flattened my chest.
Ron N