Keyslips making keys stick

[Mark Schecter]

> ------- Original Message -------
> From: Paul T Williams <pwilliams4 at unlnotes.unl.edu>
> To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: 6/20/08, 1:00:11 PM
> Subject: RE: Keyslips making keys stick
> 
> Alicia,
> 
> Wouldn't this screw cause a horrible grinding on the back of the keyslip 
> (not to mention noise) and eventually gouge out the wood when using the 
> una-corda pedal?  If this customer never uses the una-corda, then I guess 
> it would work. 
> 
> Another thought would be to drill extra screws in from the bottom of the 
> keybed into the bottom of the keyslip like Baldwins and older M&H's to 
> hold it rigid.  I've seen as many as 5 screws going into the slip from 
> underneath....    {+    +    +    +     +}
> 
> Paul
> 
> 
> 
> 
> A E <eve_ane at hotmail.co.uk> 
> Sent by: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org
> 06/20/2008 10:12 AM
> Please respond to
> Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> 
> 
> To
> Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> cc
> 
> Subject
> RE: Keyslips making keys stick
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From my observation this happens in pianos with a "thin" keyslip, it 
> seems only logic that it will bend or flex... or whatnot... I crossed a 
> few pianos.. european pianos mainly that have a heavy solid keyslip (bout 
> an inch thik), its never been a problem on such pianos... if its wood 
> perhaps its humidity?
> About 3 weeks ago i had a problem (it was 96*F with 85% humidity) i was 
> seriving a Bechstein, skinny keyslip.. its never been a problem, but the 
> owner called me because the keyslip crowned inward and was jamming the 
> keys... ive worked withthat piano for 2 years and its never been a 
> problem... owner said that piano stood constantly next to an open 
> window... so go figure.. i put a small screw into the front of the 
> keyframe and adjusted it to keep a nice space...
>  
> hope this helps...
>  
> Alicia Evans
> 
> 
> From: imatunr at srvinet.com
> To: pmc033 at earthlink.net; pianotech at ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Keyslips making keys stick
> Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:03:56 -0600
> 
> Hi Paul,
> A small screw placed at the bottom of the inside corner of a cheek block, 
> will cant the front and outside of the block,
> so that the block will push the key slip out away from the keys. Advantage 
> is that it also keeps the block firmly against the outside arm and is 
> fairly quickly adjustable.
> Joe Goss RPT
> Mother Goose Tools
> imatunr at srvinet.com
> www.mothergoosetools.com
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Paul McCloud 
> To: Pianotech List 
> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 11:16 PM
> Subject: RE: Keyslips making keys stick
> 
> Hi, Paul:
> I've seen a lot of this kind of binding with the keyslip.  Especially in 
> said brand.  I used to move the keyframe backward (yeah, I know.  The 
> optimum strike point is lost).  At least the piano would play again.  What 
> really needed to be done was to plug and redrill the dowel pins in the 
> cheek blocks and move the blocks forward a few mm's.  Sometimes I put felt 
> strips on the front of the cheek blocks to shim out the keyslip.  Usually, 
> on the newer grands, the cheek block has a notch which engages the keyslip 
> and holds it.  I've tried shimming up the bottom rear edge of the keyslip, 
> but that does nothing.  I've sometimes also added a small screw to the 
> front of the cheek block, which can be used to adjust the keyslip without 
> shims.  I also sometimes sand the ends of the keyslip so it will fit 
> without binding on the inside of the arms.
>  Not a huge deal but annoying and time consuming to remedy.  Welcome to 
> the club.
>     Paul McCloud, RPT
>     San Diego
>  
> Paul McCloud
> Service Technician for PianoSD.com
> www.pianoservsd.com 
> Created with free BlueVoda software:
> http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9
>  
>  
>  
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: paul bruesch 
> To: Pianotech List
> Sent: 06/19/2008 10:06:57 PM 
> Subject: Keyslips making keys stick
> 
> I've noticed a number of keyslips that bow (crown?) and/or tilt towards 
> the key fronts, thus causing keys to stick down when played. 
> 
> Today I visited a YC TG150 baby with this problem.  I had pulled the 
> action in it just over a month ago and all was well when I left that day. 
> Today, I could hardly get the keyslip out (or back in), the ends were 
> binding so tightly against the sides... much, MUCH harder than last month. 
>  
> 
> I've shimmed a couple of these out now with front rail felts which results 
> in a nice even gap, but I curious why I'm seeing so many of these lately. 
> At least 50% are on pianos that I either have not seen or at least not 
> removed the keyslip in the past. The one I did two days ago had a folded 
> up business card (current owner's mom's tuner's card from 20 years ago) 
> already in there.
> 
> I've only been tuning for about 3-1/2 years, and I see more pianos these 
> days, but the incidence seems to be picking up not! iceably. Is this such 
> a common problem in general? I'm thinking that today's was possibly caused 
> by increased humidity, except I believe there was a thread recently that 
> mentioned that expansion isn't really an issue along the grain... and come 
> to think of it, I don't believe that this keyslip is "wood" anyhow.
> 
> Thoughts?
> Paul Bruesch
> Stillwater, MN
> 
> 
> Miss your Messenger buddies when on-the-go? Get Messenger on your Mobile!
>