Key repair

[bases-loaded@juno.com]

HI Barb-

A strange form of vandalizing, to be sure...

You may have to experiment with a few cleaners/solvents in hopes of
discovering what this mystery substance might be.  IF the stuff is waxy,
I would try some mineral spirits to remove it from the keys.  Mineral
spirits will dissolve wax very readily, and shouldn't hurt the plastic if
not allowed to dwell there long.  Same for the wood part of the keys and
the keybed, after scraping off the bulk of it.

I have certainly never tried it, but I wouldn't think that mineral
spirits would harm the bass strings much either, at least applied
sparingly with a cotton swab just enough to dissolve and remove the wax. 
Maybe others will have an opinion based on experience?

I can't imagine what could safely remove it from around the tuning pins,
though.  Any liquid could seep down into the block and contaminate it.   

Mark Potter
bases-loaded@juno.com


On Thu, 23 Nov 2000 09:44:56 -0500 "Barb Hall" <barb-hall@home.com>
writes:
> Hello
> 
> I have a client whose house was vandalized recently.  The person did 
> some
> damage to the piano, especially the keys.  There is a substance of 
> unknown
> origin all over both the white and black key tops (they're plastic) 
> .  I've
> tried wiping it off, but it leaves the surface of the key so 
> slippery that I
> feel they'd be unsuitable playing surfaces.  It appears to be sort 
> of a
> thick waxy oily liquid.  Could be some sort of furniture polish or 
> liquid
> floor wax, but I'm not really sure. Some of it seeped down the sides 
> of the
> keys and of course has penetrated the wooden portion of the key.  It 
> also
> pooled in the keybed and has damaged some of the front rail 
> bushings.  A
> little bit has gotten on some of the bass strings, a few dampers are
> stained, and there is a fair bit of it on the tuning pins.
> 
> Any idea on what I should use to clean the keytops so they aren't so
> slippery, and how to remove the stuff from the keybed?  Should I 
> clean the
> tuning pins?  I was thinking lemon juice or vinegar for the keytops, 
> and
> trying to chisel then sand the wooden part of the keys and the 
> keybed,
> perhaps some fine steel wool for cleaning the bass strings.
> 
> Any suggestions on what to do or what to tell my client would be 
> much
> appreciated.
> 
> Thanks
> Barb
> 
> barb-hall@home.com
> 
> 
>