Steam them off. I bought an old iron at a thrift store. Put a wet cloth on the keys, heat them with the iron, and when they keytops are softer, use a chisel to pry them off.
But the easiest way to recover keytops is to send them to someone who does this for a living. Much "cheaper" in the long run, with much better results.
There are a number of people listed in the back of the Journal who do this.
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Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-10-2018 00:24
From: Robert Rothschild
Subject: Removing old Yamaha keytops
I'm working on a 1950's Yamaha console that has developed horizontal fissures in the keytops. I've been optimistically hoping to recover them myself, but am horrified at how brittle the dang things are, and how difficult they are to remove. Does anyone have a suggestion to make this process easier than what I can do with a sharp knife, chisel, and plentiful supply of foul language? Thanks in advance!
Robby
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Robert Rothschild
Santa Fe NM
505-603-7906
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