<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; = charset=Windows-1252"> <TITLE>Message</TITLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV><SPAN class=047300421-24082004><FONT face=Arial>Glued on some = Schaff 1396W key tops today and was very glad to see that the keys of this old = Cable-Nelson are wide enough that the tops need almost no trimming. BUT (and I've = noticed this before) the 'D' tops are just about 2mm too narrow when the others = just fit nicely. Anyone else notice that? In the past, I've sanded the key = slightly so there is no wood showing ... anyone handle this differently? White paint?</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=047300421-24082004><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=047300421-24082004><FONT face=Arial>We've had, in = the past, several discussions on re-blacking wooden sharps. Here's what = I do that seems to work very well: I use a clean rag and some rubbing alcohol = to clean the sharps. This actually partially dissolves the old lacquer = (your rag will turn black) and certainly takes care of the old finger oil, etc. = When the alcohol has dried, I spray flat or semi-gloss black paint lightly to = cover, let it dry for a 1/2 hour or more, then spray with a urethane finish, wait = an hour and put on a second coat of urethane. Then I don't touch those keys for = about two days, at least, so the finish gets good and hard. They look great = and the paint simultaneously re-blacks the key-stick, too.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=047300421-24082004><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=047300421-24082004><FONT face=Arial>Okay, so I = didn't log off. I got a buncha private emails asking me not to leave which was very nice = and made me all warm and fuzzy about staying.</FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=047300421-24082004><FONT = face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV> <DIV><SPAN class=047300421-24082004><FONT face=Arial>BTW A couple of = people commented that it was always the non-contributors (the lurkers, as it = were) who get annoyed with the garbage and threaten to leave. I guess those particular comment makers have not been around this site = long—though it is true, I've been kinda quiet lately. </FONT></SPAN></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Alan R. = Barnard</FONT></DIV> <DIV align=left><FONT face=Arial size=2>Salem, MO</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML> <BR> <P><FONT SIZE=2>---<BR> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.<BR> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).<BR> Version: 6.0.742 / Virus Database: 495 - Release Date: 08/19/2004<BR> </FONT> </P>