[pianotech] scratched keytops

[John Ross]

Buffing should work.
I would do them all.
Make sure that you use a soft layered wheel, with a buffing compound.
Watch the speed of the wheel, and the pressure you apply, slower and light 
normally best.
Excess heat will 'groove' some of the softer plastics.
If the scratches are deep, I would sand them out with progressively higher 
#'d sandpaper, up to #800 or higher.
John Ross
Windsor, Nova Scotia
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Helms, RPT" <tuner at helmsmusic.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 9:21 AM
Subject: [pianotech] scratched keytops


Hey list -

It was great to meet some of you face-to-face in Grand Rapids! I have a
customer whose white keytops are scratched. This is a relatively new and
well maintained Kawai grand. I've not actually seen the damage yet, so I
don't know how deep the scratches are. Is it possible to buff out
scratches on plastic keytops without losing their lustre and feel? If so,
what would I use, what would the technique be, and would I have to buff
out all of the naturals or just the 6 or 8 notes that are scratched?
Barring that, would I be able to get by with replacing only the scratched
keytops, or would I need to replace the whole set in order to get a match
in color, feel, and thickness?

Scott
------
Scott A. Helms, Registered Piano Technician
www.helmsmusic.net