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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Shawn, The best way to remove key tops is with a
electric heat gut used for removing paint. They come off easily with a little
heat.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Cheers, David Lawson</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=fmurray@cruzio.com href="mailto:fmurray@cruzio.com">Fenton Murray</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, June 27, 2008 1:43 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Removing old keytops</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Shawn,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A delayed reply here. I recently ordered a set of
keytops from Kawai for one of their models. While the fit was perfect,
requiring only a little filing at the notch, the keytops them selves were very
problematic for me with several of them cracking during the glue up. I have
done many sets of key tops and have never encountered this problem. This meant
buying another set for spares at the already high dealer price. Could have
been operator error, but just thought I'd pass it along.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fenton</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=shawnbrock@fuse.net href="mailto:shawnbrock@fuse.net">Shawn
Brock</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Saturday, June 21, 2008 9:17
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Removing old keytops</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>List,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have a Kawai U S T 5 which was given to
me. Problems include, broken sustain peddle, finish damage and chipped
keytops. This is a piano that I will probably turn in to a
rental... So the object here is to make more money than you
spend... Given this fact, I am going to replace the keytops
myself. These are one peace top and front. Anyone want to share
ideas for removing them? I can easily get them off from the back, it
almost looks like they are not glued down in the back. Taking this
approach though causes them to snap in the middle. I usually farm out
my keytop business but this just seems to not be worth it... So, back
to the subject at hand... Should I heat them? Or is it better to
just chip away at them. The ones I have removed seem to come off
easily, but I wonder if a little heat will make it easier still!
Question 2: Do you think I should go with the one peace tops and
fronts? I will say, that I hate the one peace top and front
but... Its what was on the piano. Oh, and yes I'm sure the same
thing will happen at some point. They will chip or start to come off,
but this is not a piano that's mint to last a lifetime. I have a
feeling they would have lasted longer, but it looks like the piano might
have been abused heavily. Regards</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Shawn Brock,
RPT</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>