Replacing Key Leads

[Farrell]

I have encountered this a number of times. I have always filed them off. All
pianos I have done this on were low end pianos and there were only a few
keys affected. Then I tell the customer that this is much cheaper than new
lead, but MAY not last - we may find we have the same trouble in the future.
I have also noticed that in every case, the lead is white and powdery -
suggesting oxidation or some similar chemical reaction in the lead. I have a
hard time imagining the wood squeezing the lead out.

Does anyone have any good info on what goes with key lead? Is it the lead or
the wood that is the cause? If it is the lead, what chemical reaction is
occurring? If you file the excess off, is it likely to reoccur?

Terry Farrell
Piano Tuning & Service
Tampa, Florida
mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "thepianoarts" <thepianoarts@home.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2001 11:24 PM
Subject: Re: Replacing Key Leads


> Hi Paul,
>
>     I would shave them, in thinking that the worst is over. I don't think
> the lead swelled....but it was the swelled wood that squeezed them out.
> (Don't breath the dust if you sand, and wear gloves).
>
> If you want to add new lead, Renner makes a 'De-leader' tool, that helps
> punch them out. Or, you could save $70 + bucks, and punch them out over a
> slightly larger hole, so as to prevent the wood from splitting. But again,
I
> don't think the lead is the problem.
>
> Dan Reed
> Dallas chapter


>Why can't you file them off? The leads have become corroded because of
>moisture in the air. If you replace the old leads with new leads, the new
>ones will become corroded, just like the old once. So just shave off the
old
>ones, and let it go at that. It's a lot easier.
>
>Willem

>
>
>
> on 1/22/01 10:35 PM, Paul McCloud at smccloud@ix.netcom.com wrote:
>
> > I would like to know the best way to replace key leads.  I have come
> > upon a Wurlitzer grand that has leads which have swelled and rub against
> > the neighbors.  I don't want to shave them off, as I know they will just
> > continue to swell.  I would like to know what sort of tools I would need
> > to remove the leads without breaking the keysticks.  Thanks
> > Paul McCloud
> > San Diego
> >
> > --
> > mailto:smccloud@ix.netcom.com
> >
> >
>
>