<html> <body> Matthew, I have to glue back on the occasional ivory.  I clean both the ivory and the key-top, then I coat both the ivory and the key.  Thirty seconds later I position the ivory and wrap a rubber band around the key and the ivory.  Back to tuning...half hour+ later it goes back in the piano. Andrew At 10:57 AM 9/23/2005, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Maybe I am not waiting for the glue to dry a little before attaching the top.  I will try that!   Thank you, Matthew Jeannie Grassi <jcgrassi@earthlink.net> wrote: <dl> <dd>Matthew, <dd>The beauty of PVC-E is not having to clamp.  I have been doing keytops with it for many years and never had a problem.  You may have told us this already, but I’ll ask again, how are you preparing the key surface?  If it isn’t planed smoothly, you might have problems.  Also, sometimes it is necessary to apply a preliminary sealer coat of glue to the key and then a second coat for gluing.  Wait for it to dry a little and slide the keytop on, applying a little pressure.  Hold it for a few seconds and then set it aside.  I think the problem is not the glue, but perhaps your method.  Keep experimenting.  Like most things in this business, practice makes perfect.  Very seldom are we successful on the first few attempts. <dd>jeannie <dd>  <dd>Jeannie Grassi, RPT <dd>Assistant Editor, Piano Technicians Journal <dd> <a href="mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net">mailto:jcgrassi@earthlink.net</a> <dd>  <div align="center"> </div> <dd>From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [<a href="mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org" eudora="autourl"> mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org</a>] On Behalf Of Matthew Todd <dd>Sent: Friday, September 23, 2005 6:56 AM <dd>To: Pianotech <dd>Subject: RE: Key Clamps <dd>  <dd>I am using PVC-E, but it appears I still need to clamp...unless I want to hold each key tightly for 5 minutes after applying the new top. <dd>  <dd>Matthew <dd>"Paul Chick (Earthlink)" <tune4@earthlink.net> wrote: <dl> <dd>  <dd>Subject: Key Clamps <dd>  <dd>Hi everyone, <dd>  <dd>I will be doing my third set of keytop replacement soon (don't worry, they're all on practice pianos!). <dd>  <dd>I did the first two sets without clamping.  I would like to do this next set with clamps to see the difference.  Any ideas? <dd>  <dd>  <dd>Thank you! <dd>Matthew <dd>  <dd>If you’re installing molded plastic key tops, stick with PVC-E glue and you won’t have to bother with clamps.  If one needs to be “clamped,” a piece of masking tape will do. <dd>  <dd>Paul C </dl> <dd> __________________________________________________ <dd>Do You Yahoo!? <dd>Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around <dd><a href="http://mail.yahoo.com" eudora="autourl"> http://mail.yahoo.com</a> </dl> Yahoo! for Good <a href="http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/">Click here to donate</a> to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. </blockquote></body> </html>