Nope on an article. Here's what I do, if that would be helpful...
-Rebush fronts (if that is part of the job)
-leave old buttons on the keys for now.
-install keys on keyframe, space etc, until they are where you want them at the end of the button installation
-prepare 2 keyboard wide pieces of poplar or something like that about .5" x 1.5" x 52 or whatever.
-place the poplar on the key backs . Drill through the poplar stick at 1 and 88 into the key and insert the index pins through the poplar and into the key. also drill index pins into the keyframe. This indexes the poplar repeatably, side-to-side, and front to back on the keys
-mark center of each key on the stick (this is not too picky)
-remove the poplar stick and drill .086 holes at the marks on the poplar on the drill press for vertical accuracy.
-place poplar back on the keyset, indexing the poplar carefull to the previous index points. drill through each of those holes you just drilled, into each key.
-insert 7 bridge pins in all the keys
-you have now basically reconnected the keys into their pre-cut-apart condition. This is the concept of the whole procedure...reconnect the keys into their pre-cut-apart condition.
-Now you can remove the keys, remove buttons, and when the keys are put back on the frame, with the poplar sticks and bridge pins, the keys will be in their proper spaced orientation, even when there is no button.
For the actual button installation:
-install onlyevery other key on the keyframe. install the poplar and bridge pins
-lay a straight edge along the keys where you want the front edge of the button to be. This will guide the placement of the new buttons
-hold one button at a time on to of each key, rough mark bandsaw cut lines, cut the buttons roughly to general shape on bandsaw, indexing the front of the button to the straight edge
-glue the rough cut buttons using rub fit PVA. No clamping as it just moves things around. A rub fit works fine..or use hot hide and a rub fit.
-remove these keys, glue the rest of the keys, and rout the buttons flush to the key sides.
If your straigtedge is carefully placed and not allowed to move, as you rub the glue surfaces together, the front edge of the button will be the index 90 deg off of the straight edge, to align the button mortise orientation.
I've done this numerous times...works fine.
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Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-25-2019 14:38
From: David Love
Subject: Key button replacement
Anyone have a good and detailed article, including jigs, for replacing an entire set of key buttons?
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David Love RPT
www.davidlovepianos.com
davidlovepianos@comcast.net
415 407 8320
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