[pianotech] removing ivories

[Ryan Sowers]

Hello Rob!

Try wetting them well and put a damp rag over them and let them sit for a
day or over night. If not loose, make sure the rags are wet and let them
sit for longer. Let time and moisture do the work. Once they fall off, I
throw them in a pot of boiling water - this will usually take off all the
residual hide glue. Use rubber gloves - they will help you handle the hot
ivory better. Scoop them out of the boiling water with a slotted spoon and
put them on clean towels to dry, flipping them over as they begin to curl
so that you can keep them relatively flat.

Ryan

On Sat, Jan 7, 2012 at 12:05 PM, Rob & Helen Goodale <rrg at unlv.nevada.edu>wrote:

> **
> I'm wondering about methods to safely remove old ivories from junk
> pianos.  I've got a junker that has ivories in reasonable condition and I'd
> like to try and remove them for future re-use.  Every attempt I've made in
> the past has resulted in them breaking into pieces.  I've heard of
> techniques ranging from using a steam iron to soaking the keys, even
> dampening them and placing them in a microwave.  Is there a proven
> sure-fire way to remove them without breaking them?  Even if one breaks the
> set will no longer match.
>
> Rob Goodale, RPT
> Las Vegas, NV
>



-- 
Ryan Sowers, RPT
Puget Sound Chapter
Olympia, WA
www.pianova.net
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