cleaning up sharps

[William R. Monroe]

Debra,

I agree with Diane here, If Ivories keep falling off, regluing can be never 
ending.  However,

I have had good success regluing ivories with PVC-E glue.  You must take 
care to prepare the pieces first.  I bring a set of bench chisels to clean 
up the back of the ivory, and remove any glue residue (usually from a 
previous attempt to reglue) from the keystick.  Be careful not to remove the 
wood here.  Then reglue, clamp with heavy finger pressure 10-20 seconds 
each.  I know some techs just press 'em on with PVC-E and don't feel any 
more is necessary.

If you have a hankering for CA, I'd suggest only a tiny drop at the very 
front and back of the key to act as a quick clamp while the PVC-E does the 
bulk of the work.  CA glue itself will fail on keytops (my fearless 
prediction).   ;-]

I'd sand the ebonies with a block, working up to 600 grit, and then put on a 
clear-wipe-on poly like WATCO.  Let the colors shine.  If they want black, 
I'd remove the ebony and put on plastic.  Save the ebony for a client that 
appreciates it.  Painting ebony (to my woodworkers mind) is cardinal sin. 
It'd be like making a beautiful piece out of birds-eye maple and then 
painting it white.  Aaaaaaaaaccckkkk!!!  Just my not-so-humble opinion.

Best,
William R. Monroe

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Debra Feiger" <debrafeiger at gmail.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 9:30 PM
Subject: cleaning up sharps


>I am rebushing an old Strauch Brothers upright and the ebonies need to
> be brought back to life in terms of color.  Suggestions?   Also, the
> ivories keep falling off, one after the other and I am CA gluing them
> back on.
>
>