preferred repair

[David Ilvedson]

The key isn't broke?  Just the key button?   Even if both were broke, I'd open up the break a bit and get some wood glue in.   Be sure to clamp on a flat surface.   Sand when dry to make it look nice and forget about it...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044

----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Jean and David Weiss" <djweiss at ntelos.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 8/23/2008 9:09:47 AM
Subject: RE: preferred repair


>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
>>