Removing old keytops

[Fenton Murray]

Shawn,
A delayed reply here. I recently ordered a set of keytops from Kawai for one of their models. While the fit was perfect, requiring only a little filing at the notch, the keytops them selves were very problematic for me with several of them cracking during the glue up. I have done many sets of key tops and have never encountered this problem. This meant buying another set for spares at the already high dealer price. Could have been operator error, but just thought I'd pass it along.
Fenton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Shawn Brock 
  To: Pianotech List 
  Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2008 9:17 AM
  Subject: Removing old keytops


  List,

  I have a Kawai U S T 5 which was given to me.  Problems include, broken sustain peddle, finish damage and chipped keytops.  This is a piano that I will probably turn in to a rental...  So the object here is to make more money than you spend...  Given this fact, I am going to replace the keytops myself.  These are one peace top and front.  Anyone want to share ideas for removing them?  I can easily get them off from the back, it almost looks like they are not glued down in the back.  Taking this approach though causes them to snap in the middle.  I usually farm out my keytop business but this just seems to not be worth it...  So, back to the subject at hand...  Should I heat them?  Or is it better to just chip away at them.  The ones I have removed seem to come off easily, but I wonder if a little heat will make it easier still!  Question 2:  Do you think I should go with the one peace tops and fronts?  I will say, that I hate the one peace top and front but...  Its what was on the piano.  Oh, and yes I'm sure the same thing will happen at some point.  They will chip or start to come off, but this is not a piano that's mint to last a lifetime.  I have a feeling they would have lasted longer, but it looks like the piano might have been abused heavily.  Regards
  Shawn Brock, RPT
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