Laura, Just buffing is fine for ivory that's already white and in good condition. But when the ivory keytops are rough and yellowed, you've got to sand them to smooth them and remove the staining. Most of the yellow staining, which occurs in layers through the ivory, can be removed with careful sanding. The amount of material that gets removed is not as much as you might think. Some have claimed to have had luck with black lights, UV lights, Mr. Sun and hydrogen-peroxide solutions for whitening ivory, but frankly, I've tried these and they are not as effective as sanding. Plus, lighting fixtures require electricity, and here in California, electricity is a very expensive commodity these days. Sanding ivory is not harmful as long as you're careful about controlling the rate of material removal - I guess this takes experience. The sanding and polishing process must occur at a safe pace and with a minimal amount of heat. Most ivory keyboards can be restored to their almost original color (at a minimum they can be lightened several shades). I've restored numerous ivory sets - and they turn out beautiful. I'm on a quest for a quicker way to sand through the yellow staining and a better way to polish the ivory with a method that produces less heat than a buffing wheel. John Piesik, RPT Oceanside, CA -----Original Message----- From: Laura Olsen [mailto:laura257@chicagonet.net] Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 12:26 PM To: pianotech@ptg.org Subject: RE: Power Sanders and Ivory Keys It seems to me you could get yourself in a world of trouble power sanding ivories. They're thin enough as it is. Wouldn't they become more brittle? I use A buffing wheel. It polishes them up nicely. Laura Olsen, RPT Team2001 Institute Director 44th Annual PTG Convention & Institute July 11-15, 2001 Reno, Nevada http://www.ptg.org/conv.htm -----Original Message----- From: owner-pianotech@ptg.org [mailto:owner-pianotech@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Piesik, John (JPIESIK) Sent: Friday, February 16, 2001 12:24 PM To: Pianotech Post Msg (E-mail) Subject: Power Sanders and Ivory Keys Does anyone out there have any experience with sanding and polishing ivory keytops with a palm-type orbital power finishing sander? I'd like to learn of your experiences with power sanders, which power sander models are best (Bosch vs Makita, variable speed controls, pad shapes, motor amps, weight, etc), etc. Also, how well do power sanders work at polishing? The main objective is to keep the heat produced by friction to a minimum (heat compromises the keytop glue joint). I've long ago discovered that working by hand is the safest way to work with ivory while providing the most control. However, of course, it's also the most laborious method. But, just maybe there's a better/quicker way... Many Thanks, John Piesik, RPT Oceanside, CA
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