S&S Gumby keys and related question

[Nichols]

At 04:44 PM 1/2/2005 -0700, you wrote:
>Hi Guy,
>Never tried it, but thin CA might be a better penetrating agent. With
>plenty of ventilation. No need for activator,

>  the moisture in the wood will
>set up the glue.

Let's see.... hmmm..... we add moisture to the dry room, normally, to get 
it up to a point where we can get 5 or 6% EMC. Actually, right now, it's 
moist. We've had rain! Last year was a tad over normal (9") for the first 
time in 5 years. But, usually, I have to help CA glue or it just doesn't 
set well.

>  Keep glue off the felt and balance rail hole! Apply along
>the sides of the key. What do you think?

Well, yeah! Ain't gonna soak the felts, sir. As far as what "I" think, 
well... I've used epoxy on soundboards for stiffening, and thanks to others 
the results are well documented. Haven't cheaped-out enough before on the 
keys to see if it would actually help, for the effort. I don't think 
they've even got the budget for hardwood shoes. I'll find out in a couple 
of weeks.

Curious about something else pertaining to flex-a-keys: The symptoms of 
flexible keys are easy enough to describe in regulation terms, what are 
some descriptions from players? Mushy, etc.? Do you find that players 
sometimes describe a condition by pointing at a symptom that isn't really 
indicative of the actual problem? Especially, in this case, the condition 
being that the keys have a LOT of flex?

>Joe Goss RPT

Thanks for the feedback, Joe. I may try CA, with activator, on a couple. CA 
with Titebond as an activator (using the Titebond around BR holes and BR 
felts to size) on another couple, and water-thin epoxy on a couple more. Do 
the measurements, etc, for flex, with weights. Blow the budget on the first 
six keys, but.... hey.... it's a learning curve, right? <G>

Later,
Guy