[CAUT] slippery keys

[Douglas Wood]

I'm pretty sure Blackstone Valley Piano will do this. Mike Morvan  
claimed that the cracking is more likely when new wood and new ivory  
are used. Currently, only old ivory is available, so he told me that  
there should not be a problem with one-piece tops on a new keyset. I  
would guess less trouble yet on older keys. And I'm pretty sure he  
can do individual keys. We, too, have a few such cracks. Maybe I  
should get a quote.....

There are probably a couple of other places that will do this--David  
Warther seems to be the main source of ivory, and I think he can  
provide a list of people doing ivory key coverings. It's been a while  
since I've actually researched ivory availability...

Doug


On Dec 7, 2009, at 12:40 PM, Fred Sturm wrote:

> On Dec 7, 2009, at 1:20 PM, Douglas Wood wrote:
>
>> So I've been reflecting on this, and my current hypothesis is that  
>> the reason that ivory has this reputation of being just a bit  
>> tacky is not so much the ivory as the finish that's on it. Which  
>> is, I believe, bees-wax based buffing compound. So I have just  
>> buffed all the naturals. (Now I'm wondering if I should also buff  
>> the ebonies...)
>>
>> I'm posting here in the hopes that some of you might be able to  
>> either corroborate or correct this line of thought. Anyone??
>
>
> 	I have under my care one of those D's with the one piece ivories,  
> and I think they are particularly smooth. They seem to have a very  
> even and solid grain. I think most older ivory tends have a more  
> pronounced grain, and develops a surface grain, as the softer  
> portions wear with use. I think this may be where the reputation of  
> "tackiness" of ivory comes from.
> 	I don't find the feel of the smooth one piece ivory much different  
> from plastic, in the sense of slipperiness. It does feel different,  
> and I kind of like the feel better, like a wooden tuning lever  
> handle versus plastic. But I think slippery treatment is probably  
> the same.
> 	BTW, a few of my one piece ivories have developed cracks, from the  
> corner (where the sharps are) into the wide part. Anyone know of  
> whether it is possible to have someone replace this material  
> successfully?
> Regards,
> Fred Sturm
> University of New Mexico
> fssturm at unm.edu
>
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