Filling fingernail gouges in sides of keys

[David Love]

It's a piano I purchased that needed rebuilding but the keytops had been
done (just).  If I can't find a reasonable way to fill them I may just bite
the bullet and have a new set of keys made.  Inlays are not invisible either
and, in fact, a couple of keys had been done (don't ask me why not all of
them were).  The sharps had also been replaced with some cheesy plastic and
everything else needs doing too so I'm debating $$$ outlay versus my time
and I usually opt in favor of my time these days.  But thanks for the
suggestions.   

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 Jon Page
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 4:21 AM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Filling fingernail gouges in sides of keys

On giving this more thought, I would pass on the filling endeavor.
The cart is before the horse... It's like deciding to gild the plate
after you restrung the piano.

But afterthoughts are sometimes the Grandmothers of Invention.

Here's what I would do so as not to have a dissimilar material on the key:

Route out a strip with a 1/4" or so bit with a plunge router. Start 
at the front
and route a slot right off the back of the head. Inlay a piece of 
wood fashioned
from suitable stock. Trim rear edge to the angle of the key.

The diameter of the router bit would be determined by the width of the
damage.
The only filling that may be needed would be at the top front edge of the
inlay
if you left it rounded. Otherwise squaring the corners would preclude
rounding
the ends on the inlays.
-- 

Regards,

Jon Page