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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt"><SPAN
class=781540517-29082007><FONT face="Goudy Old Style">Nothing you do to the
sides is going to have much affect on the stiffness of the keys. The only way
I've been able to effectively improve these actions was described in a Journal
article I wrote on the subject:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt"><FONT face="Goudy Old Style">The
Designers Notebook <BR></FONT><FONT face="Goudy Old Style"><B>Action Power Part
II – Improving Piano Action, Efficiency & Power <BR></B>December, 1996
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt"><SPAN
class=781540517-29082007><FONT face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#000080>ddf</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 6pt"><SPAN
class=781540517-29082007><FONT size=2>Delwin D Fandrich<BR>Piano Design &
Manufacturing Consultant<BR>620 South Tower Avenue<BR>Centralia, Washington
98531 USA<BR>Phone 360.736-7563<BR><<A
href="mailto:fandrich@pianobuilders.com">mailto:fandrich@pianobuilders.com</A>>
</FONT></P></SPAN></DIV><BR>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>A440A@aol.com<BR><B>Sent:</B> August 29, 2007 7:22 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
pianotech@ptg.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> stiffening keys<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT face=Geneva size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF">Greetings, <BR> I have been wondering what to
do with a mid-sixties Steinway. It has the Pratt-Read keys and they are
sorta limber. I think this is due to the poor wood, and lack of large
plates. <BR>so, since there is no budget for rebuilding the keys
with new buttons and larger plates top and bottom, I have been wondering
whether there is any stiffening to be gained by simply painting the sides of
the keys with West System epoxy. It seems that it would gain something
by soaking into the wood. I even thought about laying some strands of
carbon fibers along the middle length and painting the epoxy over them,(I have
seen this done on motorcycle fairing repairs, and was amazed at the strength
it imparted). <BR> Anybody tried this? <BR>thanks,
<BR><BR><BR><BR>Ed Foote RPT<BR></FONT><FONT face=Geneva size=2
FAMILY="SANSSERIF"></FONT><BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR>Get
a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
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