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<DIV>----- Original Message -----
<DIV>From: "Farrell" <<A =
href="mailto:mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com"><FONT
color=#000000>mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com</FONT></A>></DIV>
<DIV>To: "Pianotech" <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org"><FONT
color=#000000>pianotech@ptg.org</FONT></A>></DIV>
<DIV>Sent: January 10, 2003 4:51 AM</DIV>
<DIV>Subject: Re: warped keys</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>> Time, heat and pressure can even put a nice bend in a =
mountain.
Regarding the rims though, the thickness of the lamination is also =
important.
The thicker a piece of wood is (like a key), the longer heat and =
pressure will
be required to bend it.</DIV>
<DIV>></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Some very early =
(forte) piano rims
were heat bent out of solid stock. A few have been made from stacked, =
sawn
stock. From the mid- to late-1800s most all piano rims have been made =
from bent,
laminated veneers of varying species and thicknesses.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Heat bending solid =
stock (with or
without steam) into a piano rim is problematic at best. The =
inconsistencies of
the process pretty much insure hand fitting everything on through the =
process.
Bent laminates are quite consistent -- assuming you maintain control =
over the
process.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT><FONT =
face="Comic Sans MS"
color=#000080></FONT><BR>> <BR>> You could do the key in a steam =
box. That
is how you go about bending 2" by 2" (and larger) white oak to make a =
bent rib
for a boat hull. Some woods steam better than others. If you steamed the =
whole
key though, I guess you'd have to plan on rebushing and a new key cover. =
But
yes, it would most certainly work. Don't recommend it though.<BR>> =
<BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080>Not to mention the =
fact that all
piano keysets are made of glued up blanks. The glue joints holding the
individual boards together are going to want to come apart as well. What =
you're
going to end up with are lots of bits and pieces to glue back together. =
Ain't we
got fun!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#000080></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" =
color=#000080>Del</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>