[pianotech] key making specs

Ron Nossaman rnossaman at cox.net
Mon Jan 3 09:33:13 MST 2011


On 1/3/2011 10:08 AM, David Love wrote:
> Opinions about having keys made with maple shoes and maple buttons versus
> all bass wood?  Sizing issues and noise versus longevity are the issues.
> All the keys I've had made have both maple buttons and shoes but I'm not
> sure I like it.

Basswood has a MOE of 1,040,000psi, and perpendicular to grain 
compression strength of 170psi. The same figures for hard maple are 
1,830,000psi, and 1,470psi. Yellow Poplar's figures are 1,580,000psi, 
and 500psi. Good stiffness without the excessive hardness that produces 
noise. I've been using poplar, and like it, but soft maple is roughly 
similar in stiffness and hardness, so it would be suitable too.

Ron N


More information about the pianotech mailing list

This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC