Pianotech

  • 1.  Keytop material problems

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-06-2018 03:11
    Esteemed Colleagues:
    My most recent (2 months ago) order of keytops from Schaff are posing problems.  They seem to be much harder material than previously.  This makes edge chipping common when trimming with a router even though I'm using new carbide bits and going very slowly.  Also hand filing is more difficult and time consuming.  When I asked Pianotek if their tops are better, Bob M said no, we buy from the same supplier, Kluge, and we have the same problems.  Any comments?

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    Mike Kurta, RPT
    N. Michigan chapter
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  • 2.  RE: Keytop material problems

    Member
    Posted 10-06-2018 08:09
    Hi Mike,

    I  remember you commenting on this problem before so I have been watching for problems.  While I don't doubt what you are experiencing, we have not had any problems with either the Schaff or the Pianotek keytops. That said, we do not use a router for trimming. Our methods always remove the excess keytop material in the direction of the key wood. This is most likely why we are not having chip out issues. 

    Deb 





  • 3.  RE: Keytop material problems

    Posted 10-06-2018 08:41
    Deb,  How do you trim?

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 4.  RE: Keytop material problems

    Member
    Posted 10-06-2018 12:10
    Jim,

    Oslund, specially designed 3 inch bench sander (for lack of a better description), followed by hand filing.

    Deb






  • 5.  RE: Keytop material problems

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-07-2018 01:41

                   Deb:  I'm not familiar with the belt sander you describe.  It seems like you would have to be super careful not to sand any wood from the sides of the keys.  And do you have to spend more time and energy hand filing?  I time studied my time hand filing and it is around 3 ½ minutes for each key.  I use a router for the notch and that also can cause chipping if I'm not careful.   Check out my setup at www.keytops.net

                   Possible to send a picture of the sander.  Are we friendly competitors? 

                   Mike Kurta






  • 6.  RE: Keytop material problems

    Member
    Posted 10-07-2018 07:39
    Mike, 
    Oslund machines (2 one cutting each direction -  forward/reverse) for nothching. Will not photo sander as this was custom designed for me. Not available off the shelf.  I will say that the backup plate dead ends at the belt edge with no rounding and the bed is quickly adjustable in angle to avoid belt touching the wood (unless you really try). Hand finishing is only to finalize the rounding of cut/sanded edges and goes quickly. Hand held, single direction filing.

    Deb 





  • 7.  RE: Keytop material problems

    Posted 10-07-2018 08:59
    I had a little more difficulty when they first changed to the harder material. Only with the hand filing though. I use a belt sander that sounds the same as Deb's, and an Oslund style notcher that always cuts down towards the wood. I also use an end mill for rounding the edges of the head, so no filing there either. My time filing is around 18 seconds per key (16 minutes for a set) an occasional notch to touch up and rounding the very front corner slightly. I don't use a file, just a sanding block, so there is nothing to catch or chip a key. I also do zero buffing. Everything comes out of my jigs ready to go.  

    All that said, I'm no longer doing molded acrylic keytops. Only Ivoplast, Tharan, and Bone. There's a high demand for premium work with premium materials.

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    Philip Stewart, RPT
    NJ Piano Service
    609-774-7571
    www.njpianoservice.com
    njpianoservice@gmail.com
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  • 8.  RE: Keytop material problems

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-08-2018 07:54
    Hi Mike,

    I've noticed that the room temperature has an effect on chipping.  My shop in is a semi-finished basement which is below grade, so the temperature is always on the cool side.  I found that cold keytops will chip more easily.  

    Now I place a group of 8 to 10 keys waiting to go through the router under a lamp.  I'm not making them hot, just less cool.  That reduced the chipping I was getting.

    Are you getting the chipping when you trim the side overhang or when you cut the notch?

    You could also try and find an Osland machine, perhaps someone has one they are not using. 

    David Weiss

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    David Weiss
    Charlottesville VA
    434-823-9733
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  • 9.  RE: Keytop material problems

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-09-2018 19:55

                   Good advice David, my shop is also in the basement, so I'll try warming the keys prior to trimming.  The chipping occurs both when cutting the edges and the notch.  Thanks for the tip.