Installing new key end felts

[Mark Dierauf]

Since the end felts end up the same width as the keys, I haven't really
had any rubbing issues, at least with the better made vintage keyboards.
Obviously if there are rubbing keys ends than there will be rubbing end
felts as well. Before I started using the longer blade (I used to use a
single edged razor blade) and cutting from the top down I sometimes had
slight problems because the sides of the felts weren't always parallel
with the key sides. They sometimes therefore ended up a bit wider or
narrower at the top than on the bottom. A little extra trimming took
care of these but the results weren't as neat in appearance.

- Mark Dierauf

-----Original Message-----
From: David Ilvedson [mailto:ilvey at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 6:36 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: RE: Installing new key end felts

My only comment is does the key felt rub against their neighbors?   I
think I'd prefer slightly narrower than the key...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, CA  94044


----- Original message ----------------------------------------
From: "Mark Dierauf" <pianotech at nhpianos.com>
To: Pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Received: 8/5/2006 12:00:49 PM
Subject: Installing new key end felts


>      
>Not long ago there was some list discussion about this particular job,
>and since I just finished doing a set I thought I'd post these pics
with
>a short description.

>I glue the felt on with hide glue in strips that cover about one
section
>at a time, with a little extra to overhang the end keys by at least
1/8"
>or so. I don't clamp the keys together, but just press them tightly
>together before gluing, using straightedges to carefully align the keys
>fore and aft. I apply the glue only to the felt, not to the keysticks.
I
>use lengths of thin wood strips on top of the felt to apply even
>pressure with two or three large spring clamps, and clamp each section
>down to the edge of my work bench.

>I let the glue set overnight, and then slice the keys apart using a
long
>blade in a large X-acto handle, aligning the blade by starting the cut
>well inboard of the felt - I think this shows clearly in the second
>picture. I get a nice clean cut that is flush with the key sides,
except
>for the 1/8" overhang on the end keys of each section. For these, I
turn
>the key over onto a scrap block of wood and slice down with the blade
>flush against the side of the key. 

>I'm sure many or most of you figured this out long ago, but it was
>apparent from the previous posts that some people were pre-cutting the
>felt and glueing them on individually, and I believe that this way, or
>some variation of it, gives much better results in less time.

>- Mark Dierauf