Poor key morticing

[Mike Bratcher]

Yes, I am aware of how to ease a hole properly, but easing isn't the problem 
here.  The problem here is that when the key was manufactured they left too 
much wood in the top part of the balance hole.  If I were to just ease the 
hole, I would not be correcting the problem.  The key is "teetering" on a 
pin, so if the bottom of the balance rail hole is resting on the punching 
the top of the hole will wedge against the pin.  Now the top of "that" hole 
needs to have clearance when the key is depressed.  When I say top of "that" 
hole, I don't mean the top of the key button.  I'm talking about one 
sixteenth to one eighth of an inch above the balance rail hole.  The wood 
here is about one eighth.  There needs to be clearance at the top of that 
hole roughly an arch, to clear the pin.  Otherwise the pin will be bending. 
And, yes Terry they are all tight(pins in the balance rail that is).  Normal 
Key easing in this area will size the hole, but it will not address the 
problem at the top of the hole.  My easing tool if used to try this will 
damage the hole and create more problems.

Mike Bratcher
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Keith McGavern" <kam544@gbronline.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: Poor key morticing


> At 7:47 AM -0500 9/8/04, Mike Bratcher wrote:
>>... I wondering if anyone had good ideas or ways of dealing with keys that 
>>have a lot of wood around the balance rail pin.  The wood is not allowing 
>>the key to move freely.
>
> Mike,
>
> The process to do this is called "easing" by either compressing the wood 
> in the balance rail hole or physically removing it.
>
> Their are piano tools specifically made for this job. Consult our piano 
> supply house catalogs.
>
> By the way overdoing it makes for another job that's more involved, so 
> steer clear.
>
>>... This all makes for VERY poor touch.
>
> Of course.
>
> Keith
> -- 
> Keith McGavern
> Registered Piano Technician
> Oklahoma Chapter 731
> Piano Technicians Guild
> USA
>
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