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key easing pliers

  • 1.  key easing pliers

    Posted 06-15-2021 10:57
    Does anyone have a opinion/preference on these easing pliers? They both look like they will do the job of easing grand piano keys without having to remove them.  I ask because there is a significant difference in cost. 
    Thanks!
    125
    125





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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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  • 2.  RE: key easing pliers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-15-2021 11:25

    The first one you pictured is my favorite. It can ease grand keys without removing the stack. I got mine from Renner. 


    I started out with the second type you pictured. It only works if you can completely remove the key. That isn't a problem on uprights. However, on grands that could be an issue depending on how much time you have. I got to the point where spending an extra 20 minutes unnecessarily was causing scheduling issues. So I switched over to the above type. I've never regretted it; in fact, many times I've been very thankful I made the switch. It's worth the extra money. 



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    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (256) 947-9999
    www.professional-piano-services.com
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: key easing pliers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-15-2021 13:33
    Randy,

    I have both key easing pliers you are looking at and have used them both on grand pianos without removing the stack. As Benjamin mentioned, these are real time-savers!

    If there are many notes with tight front rail bushings, and time allows, I would use either an iron rheostat-governed (soldering iron with appropriately sized broaches) or, if there is even more time, VS Proflet or steam and key bushing cauls, allowed to sit overnight.

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-15-2021 19:19
    Hi Alan, If you could only have one, which one would you choose? Sorry, I had to ask.

    -Randy

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: key easing pliers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-15-2021 19:36
    You do realize, Randy, that you are asking a dyed-in-the-wool packrat to make a Sofie's choice. I have both pliers and carry both with me. But hypothetically, if I could only carry one, it might be the second one pictured. I some how got it in my head that the smaller jaw in the mortice and the larger plate that goes against the outsides of the keystick (vs. two jaws of equal size) are more benign as it seems like there is more pressure applied to a smaller area of the bushing and a larger area to absorb the pressure on the keystick,. But to make such a judgement may be splitting hairs. Raise your prices for key easing and get them both? ;-) 

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-15-2021 20:46
    Alan, your explanation regarding the mortice and larger plate on the second one makes sense - and it is $40 less than the first item. I look forward to not needing to remove the stack to service just a few keys. I currently use an easing tool that supposedly works for grands​. A steel shaft with a wedge on one end and a bushing tightener on the other. Pretty much useless in my opinion.  

    Thanks for your sharing your experience on this.

    -rp

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-15-2021 19:23
    Thanks for your input, Benjamin.

    I have a center pin extractor of the same design. It is 30+ years old but still works fine.

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-16-2021 06:34
    I don't have either of these pliers - mine to not allow grand key easing without removing the stack (I'm so jealous!!!) - I honestly didn't know that type was available..... :-(

    One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that the pliers in the first picture appear to maintain two parallel surfaces and the lower one does not - the lower one relies, presumably, on a pivoting pad for proper alignment of the other surface that applies pressure to the bushing. Now that may well work just fine and not be a detriment (I'm trying to think - mine might be like that - and it works well, after you've removed the key!). Perhaps someone with that direct experience might want to comment - it might make a difference.

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    Terry Farrell
    Farrell Piano Service, Inc.
    Brandon, Florida
    terry@farrellpiano.com
    813-684-3505
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-16-2021 10:00
    In any case, the key stop rail will need to be removed so the keys can be lifted high enough to insert the tool. After reviewing the photos, 'it appears' that the one in the second photo, can only compress the left side bushing when working with the action in the piano. I went ahead and ordered the first one. It is more universal and the twin blades are thinner which helps with clearance. In fact, I'm hoping it will replace my traditional easing pliers -  which means no additional clutter in my already packed tool case.

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: key easing pliers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-16-2021 10:31
    The pliers in the second photo can compress both sides of the bushing. There are three elements in that tool: the plate, which goes against the outside of the key, and the two working elements which go inside the key, depending which side one wants to compress.

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-16-2021 10:37
    Thanks for the correction, Alan. I was not sure about that. Now I am. 

    Best regards.

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: key easing pliers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-16-2021 13:08
    Randy said: In any case, the key stop rail will need to be removed so the keys can be lifted high enough to insert the tool.

    Don't forget about possible damage to the balance rail pin hole in the key. It's so easy to damage/enlarge the hole by lifting the front of the key high enough to get the easing pliers in place. Applying a dry lube to the pin and teflon powder to the bushing might do the trick without pliers. If easing is really needed, removing the key is the safest route and gives you the chance to examine key friction at multiple places. It also allows you to apply lubricant across the board and possibly solve multiple problems, or future problems especially with newer pianos. You might also find a front key pin that a previous technician turned to tighten a sloppy key. 

    Getting keys to work like they are designed to work can be tricky and overlooked. As physicians say,"First, do no harm." That definitely applies to easing keys.

    Richard West





    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: key easing pliers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-16-2021 13:30
    Richard has raised some good points. When easing front bushings without removing the stack, I push down the adjacent key and lift the key in need of love just high enough to get the tool in, and no higher.

    At our school, our protocols routinely involve stack removal. Two technicians can easily remove a stack in 60 seconds. ​We use two Milwaukee cordless screwdrivers with six-inch Philips head bits. (I replace the action bracket screws in all pianos with 1" #10 pan head Philips sheet metal screws to help keep the bit in the screw head.) A lone technician might take two minutes, but if there are multiple key bushings in need of attention, and given the balance hole distortion consideration that Richard has raised, its worth it. 

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-16-2021 18:29

    There are two more points that I can add.
    - The pliers in the top image have jaws that are always parallel. However, on many pianos, the balance rail mortices are not always parallel to the sides of the key! The second (cheaper) pliers can accommodate this discrepancy. (Keys need to be taken off the frame for this tool to work here)
     -  The second pliers have been known to break. This happens when the tool is over-stressed. It seems some technicians cannot differentiate between easing a cloth bushing and crunching the begeezus out of the wood of the keystick.

    Disclaimer: I sell both these tools through my business Piano Forte Supply.



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    Jurgen Goering
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    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-16-2021 19:25
    Good point, Jurgen. I'll keep my traditional easing pliers within reach in case I run into the situation that you described. 

    Thanks!

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message


  • 16.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-16-2021 20:08
    Hi Richard, I'm confident that I can successfully ease the key(s) without messing anything up.

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message


  • 17.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-28-2021 12:08
    Richard West and Alan Eder, after reviewing your recent posts regarding key easing pliers, my first impulse was that you were preaching to the choir. Having said that, I received the easing pliers but have not had an opportunity to use them yet. If I run across a 60 year old Kimball grand with a single sticky key - like I did a few weeks ago, I will be inclined to use the pliers. But only after trying the solutions you guys suggested - which I always do. Particularly, the position of the front key pin. On rare occasions they can turn by themselves. I serviced an old Steinway grand years back that had a front key pin that was pretty loose. If you straighten it out, it would eventually turn again after a few hours of playing. An easy fix with a little glue. 

    Say hello to my little friend...
    Cat inspecting piano
     

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message


  • 18.  RE: key easing pliers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 06-17-2021 13:22
    Randy,
    The top pliers may be more difficult to ease balance bushings because the leverage is horizontal to the bushing. There might be trouble having room for your hand to squeeze before the key stick interferes. I’m sure it can be done, but it may increase hand strain because of the limited space.

    Joe Wiencek


    Original Message


  • 19.  RE: key easing pliers

    Posted 06-28-2021 12:47
    Makes sense. I will use my traditional easing pliers for such a situation.

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    Randy Prentice
    Tucson AZ
    520-749-3788
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    Original Message