[pianotech] No Key Bushings? What a Square!

[Susan Kline]

I once glued two small (er....) bastard files together with a piece of 
mat board in between, so they ended up exactly the right size for a 
standard upright mortise. I don't think I'd be keen to use a power tool 
to enlarge slots on square grand keys. Life could get far too 
interesting far too quickly.

I do remember coming across a very old upright while I was still a 
pianotech student, without any keybushings. The keys were quiet. Well, 
since I didn't know enough to leave something which was working 
perfectly well alone, I tried putting some dag on them -- and they 
started making noises.

<blush>

Susan Kline



On 5/25/2012 10:58 AM, Patrick C. Poulson wrote:
> So the square piano I am working on has no key bushings - this is 
> certainly a first for me. Of course there is too much sideplay in the 
> keys and therefore bushings seem necessary. Has anyone had to do this 
> procedure? How difficult would it be to rout out the keys for 
> bushings? The key pins are .137 in diameter, so what size routing bit 
> would be needed?
> Thanks,
> Patrick C. Poulson
> Registered Piano Technician
> 530-265-1983
>
>