[pianotech] Applying PVC-E to new plastic keytops - another alternative

[David Love]

You probably spoke to Mark or Bob and I don't think clamping has much to do
with glue joint success of failure with that type of glue.  Light clamping
helps create a somewhat more uniform contact and assists with squeeze out to
insure that that amount of glues is at least somewhat consistent along the
length of the joint.  If you've planed the keytop flat beforehand then
uniform contact isn't a problem and even a modest stroking of the keytop
when it's first put in place will get the squeeze out needed to insure
uniform thickness.  There is a point of diminishing returns with the amount
of pressure. 

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of David Weiss
Sent: Friday, January 01, 2010 2:47 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Applying PVC-E to new plastic keytops - another
alternative

 

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

 

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