List,
Tom thanks for recommending my services.
Maybe I could add some information here. Mineral plastic has two of the three coveted properties of ivory and bone:
1. it is cool to the touch
2. it grips the fingers a bit
The third being porosity, which wicks-off moisture a bit. Plastics are not porous so this property is not possible.
Mineral plastic can be considered expensive if is it being compared to a generic "one size fits all molded top", but in actuality it is less than a third the cost of ivory or bone and only twice the cost of acrylic. Mineral plastic, similar to ivory, bone, and Ivorene also comes in sheets or individual pieces that need to be machined to proper thickness and size, glued on separately (tops and fronts), and then have all the shaping, contouring, and finishing done. Mineral plastic does not come as a molded top, and like all non molded tops, they are very labor intensive and more so if they are traditionally clamped and applied with the proper adhesives.
An advantage to the "sheet' or "individual piece" approach to key recovering is that the material is trimmed to the side of the keystick and then it is contoured and shaped, preserving original spacing. This method does not leave the "overhang" of material on the sides of the key when the molded top is too big, or the "underhang" and exposure of wood on the sides when the molded top is too small, these situations affect the spacing and appearance. Keep in mind, when the oversize molded tops are finally removed the spacing will be restored to original (if overtrimming is not present) and the spacing can look excessive by contrast, when in actuality it is not.
Whether we put on ivory, bone, mineral plastic, or acrylic plastic the cost is simply materials plus labor. Ivory and bone have the highest material cost and the greatest amount of material & keystick preparation, while acrylic plastic has the least material cost and preparation. Keystick preparation is the same for all materials.
I'm not sure what Ivoplast is, but I do know that some of the better manufacturers use a form of mineral plastic on their better instruments and all will call it something different. Mineral type plastics are widely used in Europe on fine instruments which is where I found it about eight years ago and had to have it. Lets not forget Ivorine which has been around for a long time and appears to have an expectancy of about 20-30 years, people are starting to inquire about it again and it has always had a different look and feel than the more modern acrylics. Any questions give me a call. Mike
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[Michael] [Morvan]
[Blackstone Valley Piano]
[Uxbridge,] [MA]
[(508) 278-9762]
[www.pianoandorgankeys.com]
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-26-2012 00:46
From: Thomas Driscoll
Subject: alternative key covering materials
Kristopher,
I recommend Mike Morvan @ Blackstone Valley Piano.
http://www.pianoandorgankeys.com/index.htm
Tom Driscoll
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[Thomas] [Driscoll] [RPT]
[Piano Tuner -Technician]
Tom Driscoll Piano Service]
[Marlboro] [Ma]
508-485-0369]
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-25-2012 23:56
From: Kristopher Kunze
Subject: alternative key covering materials
Does anyone know of any "imitation ivory" or ivory-like key covering materials that might be available? Yamaha's ivorite might be suitable but I doubt they'd sell me a set especially if they knew it was to go on a Steinway B.
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Kristopher Kunze
Aurora CO
303-215-9736
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