[pianotech] Cracked Ivory heads...was "a first for me"

[Dale Erwin]

Hey Stuff wears out...ya know?
Dale


What do you do when a bunch of themdon't like being "shimmed" or cut away and just crackle fromage?  Then you're up the proverbial creek. 

Paul





From:
Dale Erwin <erwinspiano at aol.com>

To:
joegarrett at earthlink.net, pianotech at ptg.org

Date:
08/31/2010 02:27 PM

Subject:
Re: [pianotech] Cracked Ivory heads...was"a first for me"






Joe brings up a good point. Workingwith newly sliced Ivory is like night and day to old  The old stuffis soo fragile and the new stuff files close to plastic with way more ease.Its like shimming old spruce.  When will it crack so more. 


Dale S. Erwin
www.Erwinspiano.com
Custom piano restoration
Ronsen piano hammers
Sitka soundboard panels
209-577-8397
209-985-0990


-----Original Message-----
From: Joseph Garrett <joegarrett at earthlink.net>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tue, Aug 31, 2010 9:24 am
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cracked Ivory heads...was "a first for me"

Ken asked: "I have been tuning and workingon pianos since 1971 and this is the first time I have been asked thisquestion.
 
The customer has these cracks in the ivoryof the keys of this 1948 Steinway and ask if there is a way to "fix"the cracks without replacing the keytops?
 
Anyone of you have any experience? I knowthere are kits to repair chips in ivory but make cracks disappear?
 
Thanks in advance,"
 
Ken,
Yes, it's called Acrylikey. You will needto make a special tool, however. I would call it a miniature of a soundboardshimming tool. I've also done it with a dremel conical bit, but it's alittle dicier.<G> 
I do have a question/statement: Why wouldyou want to, since the picture shows that the owner is an obvious slob???<G>(either that or he/she has kids<G>) Those keys are filthy, whichis one of the reasons why the keys cracked! The chemicals from the handserodes the ivory and makes it brittle. (amazing how toxic the human bodyreally is!<G>)The owner needs to start washing hands, every time,before playing the piano, IMNSHO!<G>
Joe 
 
 
Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)
Captain, Tool Police
Squares R I
 
 


 
 Hey stuff wears out....ya know
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