Pianotech

  • 1.  Leather lid buttons

    Posted 08-31-2017 14:40
    Ok, I confess, I have never replaced these. I have always replaced with rubber buttons.
    Can anyone share how these are installed? Such as tools needed and or jigs? Yes, I have hole punches.
    Observation shows that the hole has a trough around the outer edge, and there was two pieces of leather, a small piece covered with the larger piece.
    Thanks in advance.

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    [Chris] [Chernobieff]
    [Lenoir City] [TN]

    Make The Piano Great Again!
    Lock it up, or Cristofori will pay for it.
    Shh, I just deleted 30,000 scores from my hard drive.
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  • 2.  RE: Leather lid buttons

    Posted 08-31-2017 17:45
    The seat for the button might have been made with a hole saw. To make a button, bore a hole in a scrap piece of wood, the overall diameter of the punching. Create a smaller punching to glue and press into the hole covered with a piece of thin leather or suede. Secure to dry with a similar punching. Trim the excess covering to extend into the ridges cut by the hole saw.  At least that is how I'd attempt it.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Leather lid buttons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-31-2017 18:50
    It's been my experience that I can clean up the hole with a brad point bit of the proper size. I then use a dense piece of felt or two medium balance rail punchings for the interior. Then I make a cover piece out of buckskin or ecsaine using an arch punch and hopefully the old piece of leather is around for a sizing guide. I've never had to clamp one in place as the walls of the brad point hole seem to provide enough gluing surface to hold almost immediately. I've used titebond or cold hide glue and I'd bet hot hide glue would work even better. They really do look better and I've removed plenty of them that lasted over a century. Can't say the same for rubber buttons.

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    Karl Roeder
    Pompano Beach FL
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Leather lid buttons

    Posted 08-31-2017 18:55
    Thank you Mr. Page and Mr. Roeder, appreciate it.



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Leather lid buttons

    Posted 09-01-2017 06:58
    I've had success using soft buckskin. Punch a disc of leather, then apply some fish or hide glue to it and apply to the hole. The glue makes the leather malleable, allowing the circumference to be pressed down with your fingernail. The result looks quite good.


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    Philip Jamison
    Philip Jamison Pianos
    WEST CHESTER PA
    610-696-8449
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Leather lid buttons

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 09-01-2017 08:30
    Chris,

    You can also make them essentially the same way Steinway pedal "raviolis" are made, but without the square wings to nail down. I make them a bunch at a time so I have them available when I need them.

     Drill flat bottom holes the final diameter of the cushions in some scrap wood all the same depth.  You can see my fixture in the photos. For a 1/2" cushion I use a 5/8" outer piece and a 3/8" inner piece. Put glue on the inner surfaces and carefully jam it into the hole with the dowel. Let it dry thoroughly. Then pick it out with an ask or something else thin and stiff (this part can be tricky).

    You can see the various stages in the pics. Basically build to suit your needs. If you want them deeper use a deeper hole and larger discs, or more inside, or both.  They will retain their shape permanently. Just glue o to the holes in the piano, and shim from the bottom as needed for uniform height.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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    Original Message