preferred repair

[Jean and David Weiss]

The other 87 key buttons are perfect, and the keys very nicely rebushed.
(Everything on this piano is nice.)  

Customer will do whatever I say is best.

David

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Spalding
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2008 11:11 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: preferred repair

David,

Hard to judge based on description of one cracked button. How do the 
other 87 look? Neatly re-bushed with a good fit to the pin? Old 
splintery mortises showing cumulative damage from multiple re-bushing? 
Others with cracks? If it's just one isolated cracked button, and if the 
bushing was properly fit/eased before it cracked, you can probably work 
titebond thoroughly into the crack, clamp it for 10 minutes, and be 
done. If they're all kind of ratty and risky looking, maybe a complete 
set of new buttons is in order. No matter where this set of key buttons 
is on the continuum just described, I think the customer needs to be 
informed of the situation. Perhaps she will have some recourse with the 
rebuilder / seller, or if not, perhaps she will be writing a significant 
check to you, or perhaps she will be waiting to see how they hold up 
over the next few years. Just my 2cents.

Mike

Jean and David Weiss wrote:
>
> List,
>
> With a small clean crack on a key button is it better to glue it and 
> then glue a piece of veneer along the side of the key, or is it more
>
> "craftsman-like" to replace the key button completely?
>
> The veneer repair is 5 minutes in the client's house, but the repair 
> will be visible for all eternity. (Not to the client, but only to 
> another technician.)
>
> To replace the key button I have to bring the key back to my shop, set 
> up the router, etc. More involved, but 20 years later the repair is 
> not at all visible.
>
> Normally I wouldn't obsess this much but this client just paid $50,000 
> for her rebuilt S&S A.
>
> David Weiss
>