Another Ivory Key Tops Question

Stéphane Collin collin.s at skynet.be
Wed Nov 21 11:39:34 MST 2007


Hi Rob.

I think this paint is not normal practice.  In your situation, I (but who am
I ?  poor Belgian without government) would take all white keys off and rub
them consecutively on 240, 400 and 800 grit sandpaper glued on a wood board
with some felt layer in between (to allow for good contact between sand
paper and ivory) after while, buffing with cotton wheel and ivory polishing
stuff.

Best regards.

Stéphane Collin.


A client of mine has a 1903 Waters upright.  The ivories are in pretty good
shape except that they appear to have been "painted".  In the middle
octaves, the coating has been partially worn away through playing.  But
towards the ends the paint is largely intact. The paint can be scraped off,
but it would take a fair amount of work to clean up the entire set.

Is this painting normal practice?  Is there an easy way to clean things up?

Rob
 
Mitchell Piano Service
www.mitchellpianoservice.com
(415) 994-1030





More information about the Pianotech mailing list

This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC