Contact cement works well but it's toxic, and since there are other good
options it seems best not to use it.
I've used the glue from Mike Morvan, it works well and seems safe. It has
almost no odor and washes off the top of the key easily should you get some
on the top.
However I must admit I've not clamped my plastic keytops down. I
experimented on old keys and I've not been able to pull a keytop off that
I've glued on without clamping. I hope this doesn't come back to haunt me
years from now.
I once had a keytop conversation at a convention with the guy from Pianotek.
(Can't remember his name.) He told me they use PVCE and don't clamp. They
probably do a lot of keytop work. Might there be a lot of keytops popping
off in the future?
David Weiss
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Chuck Behm
Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 12:59 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: [pianotech] Applying PVC-E to new plastic keytops - another
alternative
List - At the risk of labeling myself as being hopelessly out-of-date, I'll
throw in my 2 cents worth on the subject. For molded plastic keytops, I
maintain that contact cement is a great alternative. If you know how to use
it, it's quick, easy to apply, and really fool-proof. No clamping time to
speak of - 30 seconds or so in a cork faced vise is all it takes, and the
keytop is ready to file. (I file by hand with 2 files, by the way, so again,
I'm behind the times, but what can I say. I enjoy the work.)
I've been applying keytops this way for 30 years, and with every set have
written up a guarantee against the keys popping off, and have not had to
make good on that problem even once, since it never happens.
As far as the appearance of the keytops I do, Mike (Morvan), you've seen
them. How would you rate them? I'm sure you've seen all sorts of work come
into your shop. On a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 being the work you do, and 1
being the kind of crappy work that we've all seen where the guy obviously
didn't know what the hell he was doing, where would you rate my work?
Anyway, I'm the first to say that contact cement is not for everyone. If
you're not careful in using the stuff, it can be a mess. I chews up the
surface of the keytop if you're sloppy and get it where it doesn't belong.
The trick is to know how to apply the cement so it goes only where you want
it to.
This is all not to say that I believe there is anything wrong with using
PCV-E glue, or Mike's European glue. If it works for you and you like it -
by all means stick with it (if you'll pardon the pun).
Well, I'll quit now. It's nearly New Year's Eve, the Cyclones won their bowl
game (sorry you Gopher fans), and life is good. I may even crack open a can
of Bud Light to ring in 2010. Wild times here on the frozen tundra we call
Iowa, let me tell you.
Have a great New Year, all. Chuck Behm
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