<HTML><HEAD> <META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; cha= rset=US-ASCII"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #fffff= f"> <DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>     Bill Spurlock has  a metho= d for doing this as well & it's fairly low tech. I've done this a few ti= mes with his method but it's a bit slow The secret is a flat piece of steel = with a hole fore the balance rail pin drilled in it.This slips over the pin = on the keyframe in place of the balance punching & then the key is place= d on top of it. The key front is lined up to a straight edge running ac= ross the fronts of the keys & then it is pushed down on the steel plate = jig that has the tip of a center pin just protruding above the surface of th= e jig on each end. This puts the reference marks about 1/2" on either s= ide of the balance hole. Remove the key ,cut out a the offending area,glue i= n a new piece off bass wood or whatever then hold the key in a cross vice, l= ay the jig back in the reference marks & drill the new  hole thru t= he locator hole in the jig. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=3>   Dale</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue = 2px solid"> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi David,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>>That sounds like an ingenious way to do one key,= but unfortunately there are 88 which have the same problem...</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><shrug></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was mostly suggesting a solution for Terr= y's job, in which there are about a half dozen difficult keys.  I happe= n to own the keys in question!  ;-)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here's an idea that is totally untried and = untested, but definitely cheap:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>How about black fiber washers?  Some n= ut and bolt supplier may be able to supply these things pretty cheaply.&nbsp= ; They seem pretty tough, more so than hardwood (?), and I imagine they're q= uite durable.  I don't know the material, but they should be gluable --= possibly with Titebond, and most certainly with epoxy.  Perhaps one co= uld get a bag of, oh, a couple hundred of them for a buck or two, and r= eam the center hole to the needed size with a sharp bit.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>How to cut the recess in the keystick?&nbsp= ; Use a pilot-point drill bit, chucked in a drill press.  Pilot-po= int bits, made by DeWalt, I believe, cut flat-bottomed holes -- with a = demple in the middle (the pilot point).  Clamp the key firmly, and make= all the necessary adjustments to limit travel to the desired depth.  T= he key can be positioned in the clamp with a removable balance rail pin, whi= ch would extend from the clamp, through the keystick.  Once in position= , clamp, and then remove the pin.  Drill, glue your un-reamed fiber was= her, and move on.  After the glue is dried/cured, ream the entire set t= o the correct size.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOT= E></DIV> <DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>