disrupted mortises

[MICHAEL MORVAN]

Ed,
    In my opinion, get out as much of that PVC-E glue as possible, it is not 
compatible with hide glue, it is rubbery and when it has saturated the pores 
no glue will stick well accept more of the same. Then machine a mortise 
relief cut into the underside of the keystick to get a clean and square 
mortise to work with. Now, you might want to glue size the mortise with hide 
glue which can help the bushing to stick in a mortise that has been 
saturated with PVC-E glue. Try and isolate the really bad mortises and use 
thicker sized cloths or replace the mortise entirely, you have more 
flexibility for slop in the front rail than the balance. The services page 
of my website shows mortise relief cuts, glue sizing and mortise 
replacement. Good luck and remember to spare the next technician the horror 
of fixing a bad repair, because the next technician might be you.

Michael A. Morvan
Blackstone Valley Piano
Dedicated To Advancing The Art Of Keyboard Restoration
76 Sutton Street
Uxbridge, Ma. 01569
(508) 278-9762
Keymaestro at verizon.net
www.pianoandorgankeys.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ed miller" <edmiller3 at hotmail.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 8:12 PM
Subject: disrupted mortises


> Hello,
>
> I'm doing a key re-bushing job. The front rail bushings were glued in with 
> PVC-E glue. Many mortises were compromised by wood staying on the felt as 
> I pulled the felt away.
>
> Any suggestions on what I can do as/or before I glue in the new felt with 
> hot hide to ensure an even job from key to key?  I have been testing the 
> keys for the best felt-fit with my brass cauls, there are drastic 
> differences of fit from key to key thanks to all the wood that was removed 
> as I was removing the PVC-E'd felt.
>
> Thanks,
> Ed
>
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