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<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>Re the speed thing.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>I have a ShopSmith, I should be able to rig up
something on that. It is a very versatile machine. </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Arial>I wonder what the optimum speed should be, or does
it depend on the compound you are using?</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV>John M. Ross<BR>Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada<BR><A
href="mailto:jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca">jrpiano@win.eastlink.ca</A></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=joegarrett@earthlink.net href="mailto:joegarrett@earthlink.net">Joe
Garrett</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, March 06, 2005 2:19
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Moulded Key Tops</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>John Ross asked: "<FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Joe had mentioned problems buffing.<BR>I also have problems in this
area.<BR>I had thought on a softer buffing wheel, but have been unable to find
a =<BR>source. The selections available at my suppliers, are
limited.=20<BR>Any ideas?<BR>I had thought on slowing the wheel down. Would
that help?"<BR>John,</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I suspect it
would, as "slow" hand buffing will eventually remove the scratches in that
stuff, but it is very labor intensive. The time it takes to do this, I'd best
spend replacing the entire set with something that can be
buffed! Yikes!</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Another
problem, for key covering, is the fronts. IMO, anything over .040" thick,
is not acceptable. The only supplier that offers material in this
dimension, is Piano Tech. Their material is the same as the moulded key
top material! It will scratch very easily and has to be corrected with
hand buffing, as it won't buff, even with extremely light pressure and a
slow buffing motor w/soft wheels. (In Portland, there is a company that
specializes in plastic, of all kinds, plus all the necessary stuff that
is necessary to achieve good results. It's call Multi-Craft. I got some really
fantastic extra fine buffing compound from them!<G> (Pastel Blue,
in color) Really works great. BTW, my buffing wheels turn at 1735rpm or less.
As it's not a good idea to put a speed reducer on an electric buffing motor, I
haven't tried that. (It will prematurely burn out the motor.) I do have one
set (2) of buffing arbors that are belt driven. I've put different drive
wheels on them, to reduce the speed somewhat. I usually use that set up for
brass/metal. Hmmm? perhaps I'll try buffing the next set of keys, (with
appropriate "clean" buffing pads.), with the next set I do. It's a
thought.<G></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Best
Regards,</FONT> <BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Joe Garrett, R.P.T.<BR>Captain, Tool
Police<BR>Squares R I</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>