[pianotech] cleaning key tops

[David Love]

I would start with some auto polishing compound (if it's plastic) which may
well do the trick.  Do it by hand with a slightly damp cloth.  Likely that
will take off the marker.  If not, then start with rubbing compound followed
by polishing compound.  You don't necessarily need to use a buffing wheel or
go through all the grits unless the keytop is scratched and the marker has
gotten down below the surface.   Then you will need to sand it flat.  You
can use polishing compound after 1500 grit and it will buff out easily by
hand.  No need to sand down to 2000 or 2500.  You can easily do this all on
site.

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Chuck Behm
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 12:24 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] cleaning key tops

 

Marshall - I'm with Marcel and Terry. However, if you're going to try to
sand out the marker (assuming these are plastic keys), start with a fine
grit (500 or so) and work from there to increasingly finer grits. If you
begin with a more common grit such as 220, or you'll make more work for
yourself. 

The best way, in my opinion, to sand keys is to put the sandpaper (whole
sheet) face up on a workbench (use a couple of extra sheets underneath the
top sheet to provide a cushioning effect), then hold the key face down and
move the key back and forth over the paper.  This method is much less likely
to have the effect of rounding the edges of the keytop, which will happen if
you put the sandpaper on a sanding block and try to sand the keytop holding
the block.

When I sand keys out this way (and this method works for ivory as well), I
go from 500 to 1000, then 1500, 2000 and 2500. After the marker ink is
removed with the 500, it just takes a few passes at each grit to sand out
the previous sanding marks. Once you've gotten to 2500, you're ready to
buff. Have a couple of clean buffing wheels and use the bar polish Schaff
sells (the tan one) to give the keys a final polish. Have your grinder set
at the lowest speed possible (if you have a variable speed setting), and
really go easy or you will melt the plastic (especially at the notches for
the sharps).

 The grits of paper you need are usually available at automotive repair
supply stores. 

When the key has been polished, wipe off any remaining polish with a soft
tea towel or old white t-shirt.

Good luck with this. Chuck

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