Keyslips making keys stick

[Dean May]

What Conrad said. I've done lots of them that way and never had an una corda
problem. When you're in the field you need a 10 minute solution. 

Seems like the original question dealt with a Korean piano. I think most of
them have steel angle iron to reinforce them and prevent warpage. As I
recall one of those mfrs recommends putting one end on the floor, holding
the other up, and pushing in the middle to bend the steel to correct the
warpage. I've never had the guts to do it. 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

 

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Conrad Hoffsommer
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2008 6:35 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Keyslips making keys stick

Richard Brekne wrote:
> As I understand it, these solutions involve placing / gluing  something 
> or another in between the front of the key frame front rail and the key 
> slip. If thats the case I see nothing elegant about the solution at all. 
> Simple perhaps, but no more so then a more appropriate fix. If this was 
> a good way of doing thing I am quite sure virtually every piano 
> manufacturer would have some kind of similar thing built into their 
> pianos from the get go. None do... and that should be a clue.
> 
> If the thing it warped... unwarp it.
> Cheers
> RicB




In an ideal world,yes. Local conditions sometime overrule.
A.K.A. Expediency in the trenches.

After trying the "right" way to cure the inward warping of the key slip 
more than once with the condition only returning, I happened to see a 
certain piano with this malady actually in use. (in a classroom)

The teacher was leading the class from the piano... while standing. When 
not actually playing, the teacher would be leaning against the piano and 
pushing the key slip against the keys. An intervention had to be done.

After experimenting on the thickness to regain clearance, I glued 
cardboard front rail punchings to the front of the keyframe. Haven't had 
  rubbing keys since, and the una corda works just fine. I've had to do 
this on consoles, too, but gluing is not necessary.

Flame me if you must, I'm doing some alpha testing on a new line... ;-}


-- 
Conrad Hoffsommer, RPT - Keyboard Technician
Luther College, 700 College Dr., Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
1-(563)-387-1204 // Fax 1-(563)-387-1076

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