Removing Celluloid Keytops?

[Richard Brekne]

Steam em off

An old fashioned metal teapot... narrow snout... direct the steam onto 
the keytops and they will get hot enough to peel off with no danger of 
torching, and no fumes.

RicB

Joseph Garrett wrote:

>I've never found a good way to remove celluloid keytops. I have a set, in
>the shop, now, that has "tapered keys", (i.e. the thickness of the front of
>the keystick is narrower than the back of the key. So, I can't "machine" the
>material off with the Safety Planer. I could do, what a lot of the
>old-timers did and use a taper jig, in tandom with the table saw. However,
>many of you, have seen the inaccurate results this furnished! Also, the
>actual celluloid is tapered from front to back, in it's thickness. I've not
>seen that before! The front measures .045" thick. The back measures .025"
>thick. (hmm? just like ivory.)
>The usual "glue" that was used to attach celluloid was some sort of MEK
>based stuff that, in and of itself, is very flammable. The celluloid is
>flammable. So...., heat is not really an option and IMHO only makes the
>celluloid soft, but doesn't really break down the bond of the "adhesive".
>Sheesh! Any thoughts? I guess I could soak the key in a coffee can full of
>acetone! However, that would take a bit of time, to say the least. AND, it
>would remove the fronts, as well! Don't really want/need to do the fronts.
>Not to mention the fumes....so, it would be an outside project! HELP! <G>
>Best Regards,
>Joe Garrett, RPT, (Oregon)
>Captain, Tool Police
>Squares Are I
>
>
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