Filling fingernail gouges in sides of keys

[Mike Morvan]

David,
    We beadblast the heavy gunk out then follow up with a solvent, which 
would be tricky for you at this point. I figured that you did not cover the 
keys then try to fix the erosion.  Good luck, Mike
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Love" <davidlovepianos at comcast.net>
To: "'Pianotech List'" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 10:02 PM
Subject: RE: Filling fingernail gouges in sides of keys


> What did you remove the oils with: scraping? Mineral spirits?
>
> Unfortunately (or fortunately), hindsight is not applicable here as I 
> didn't
> install the keytops.
>
> David Love
> davidlovepianos at comcast.net
> www.davidlovepianos.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On 
> Behalf
> Of Mike Morvan
> Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2008 4:53 PM
> To: Pianotech List
> Subject: Re: Filling fingernail gouges in sides of keys
>
> David,
>    We do a lot of this work by machining off the eroded area and replacing
> it with wood of the same species and grain orientation, and in an ideal
> world I believe that this method is the best way to do the restoration, 
> most
>
> other procedures are temporary fixes. Plus with this method you can take 
> up
> the slack between the keys and improve the spacing while correcting the
> erosion.
>    But with the circumstances as you have described that is not an option.
> You could use Durham's rock hard water putty, it is not solvent-based so 
> it
> will not dissolve the keytop and it is close in color to the keystick. I
> have done this a few times in the past and the only problem is that you 
> need
>
> to get out all of the oils deposited by fingers over the years or the 
> stuff
> will not stick. Unfortunately you find out that it didn't stick when it is
> dry, not when your putting it on, wasting a lot of time. It's also a 
> bummer
> to already have the new keytops on while applying the putty, yikes,
> hindsight is always 20/20. Good luck.   Mike
>
> Blackstone Valley piano
> Michael A. Morvan
> 76 Sutton Street
> Uxbridge, Ma 01569
> (508) 278-9762
> www.pianoandorgankeys.com
> www.thepianorebuilders.com
>
>
>
>