<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Ditto, sort of. I clamp a piece of wood on the fence, lower the blade, then move the fence over until the left edge of the wood just covers the left edge of the saw blade. Turn the saw on and slowly raise the blade allowing it to cut a semi-circle into your new wood fence. After you get the blade  a couple inches higher than your key, lower it slightly and turn off. You now have a fence that you can set for cutting thinner than the saw kerf. Just move the fence over to the right to get the thickness you wish to cut off the key. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My Ryobi saw has a built miter sled that makes the job a snap. I just square the key against the miter fence, push the front against my wooden fence, increase my grip on the key against the miter fence and push through the blade. For keys with the dogleg going the wrong way (ie, bass) I flip the miter fence around and hold the key against the near side of the miter fence. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> To set your cut depth, use a scrap piece of wood and cut just a small corner. Hold your new keyfront on that corner to see if the cut is deep enough to make it flush. Adjust accordingly.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Once you are set up it goes really fast.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> There is also in the Journal a series of articles by Bill Spurlock on recovering keys with a nifty jig to do this job on a router. I think they are from the early eighties. If you have the Journal on CD (why wouldn’t you?) you can get them by searching on author. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Dean<o:p></o:p> <u1:PersonName u2:st="on"><st1:PersonName w:st="on">Dean May</st1:PersonName></u1:PersonName>             cell 812.239.3359 <o:p></o:p> PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 <o:p></o:p> <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:City u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Terre Haute</st1:City></u1:City> <u1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">IN</u1:State></st1:State>  <u1:PostalCode u2:st="on"><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">47802</u1:PostalCode></st1:PostalCode></st1:place></u1:place><o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mike Kurta Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2007 4:56 PM To: fretsandkeys@earthlink.net; <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: Removing key fronts<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <div>     Hi Bill:<o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     You will get lots of answers to your question.  My favorite method is using a table saw.  I clamp a stop block ahead of the blade which gives you a depth adjustment.  By carefully setting it up, you can cut just the front off the end of the key, or if your new material is thicker than the old, you can cut an additional thin slice of wood off at the same time.  You may have to make up a jig attached to the miter guide because of the angles on the keys.  Then holding the key firmly to the guide, push the key slowly through the blade.  You can do a set in 15 minutes.  You can do a similar process using a radial arm saw.  <o:p></o:p> </div> <div>     Mike Kurta<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> </body> </html>