Pianotech

  • 1.  Removing Keytops

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-21-2019 19:59
    Hello all,

    What, in your experience, is the best method for removing key tops? Complete sets and individuals?

    Also, I'm asking with plastics that have cracked in mind, though replies about ivories and cellulose are welcome too   :-)

    Thank you in advance,

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    Benjamin Sanchez, RPT
    Piano Technician / Artisan
    (805) 315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
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  • 2.  RE: Removing Keytops

    Member
    Posted 08-22-2019 01:13
    I have found that (90% of the time)  a regular utility knife works just fine. Sometime they can be be a little bit stubborn but patience and persistence, and not slicing your fingers (don't ask me how I know) are key. Also, if you have trouble removing the fronts, heating them up then using a sharp chisel tends to make removal easier. Stick them under a strong heat lamp or even use a heat gun. Don't get them to hot or the plastic will set off the smoke alarm(s). Don't ask me how I know. Hitting them with heat 4-5 at a time and removing the tops with a utility blade and the fronts with a chisel while another 4-5 are heating up make things go quicker. 
     Worst case scenario for super stubborn ones: I set up a jig on my router table with an upcut bit to remove the top. DON'T run the keytop through the router backwards Unless you really want to see what a key traveling across your shop at 90mph looks like. Again, don't ask me how I know. I've learned a lot of "what not to do's" early on. 😬

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    Tyler Ayala
    Los Gatos CA
    831-535-9807
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  • 3.  RE: Removing Keytops

    Member
    Posted 08-22-2019 08:01
    If needed, a hot DRY iron until they soften. Remove with a thin blade. I have a custom ground knife for the purpose. In every instance be mindful of the grain orientation and slice with the upward grain. Some keys have grain direction changes within them, seemingly at the most inconvenient spots, gentle care...

    For fronts, remember that there will be many times when you need to remove not only the old front, but the wood needs to be evenly cut back so that your overall dimensions remain the same and there will be no keyslip binding.

    Deb (with 25+ years of this key stuff I've seen nearly everything!)






  • 4.  RE: Removing Keytops

    Posted 08-22-2019 07:39
    Hot dry iron, no water. Just heat until they soften.




  • 5.  RE: Removing Keytops

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-22-2019 20:15
      |   view attached
    If I'm replacing a set with acrylic, I know I'm going to have to mill the keystick flat with my router sled (found in an old Journal article), so I just leave the tops in place and route them off at the same time.  Sometimes ivory can pop off partially when routing, so I'll see if they pop off by hand first.

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    Greg Graham, RPT
    Brodheadsville, PA
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  • 6.  RE: Removing Keytops

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-26-2019 03:32

                   In my experience recovering many hundreds of keysets, a heat gun works the best.  Timing is important.  I have an assistant warm up the keytop being careful not to set fire to it, he hands it to me and I peel off the old material with a utility knife.  Watch the grain direction of the wood so as not to lift wood in the process.  For really stubborn jobs, I apply a household iron set on high with a wet cloth between the iron and key.

     

                   Mike Kurta, RPT

                   N. Michigan chapter






  • 7.  RE: Removing Keytops

    Posted 08-26-2019 19:21

    Nightmare keytops:  1891 Steinway upright with ugly yellow celluloid keytops.  Probably not original.  The celluloid and glue were tougher than the keysticks (probably cedar), so no amount of heat or solvents would loosen the glue.  I sawed them off on the bandsaw--did a so-so job.  And only caught things on fire two or three times.  Cellulose puts out massive plumes of smoke when it starts smoldering.  Be very, very careful.


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    Eric Schell
    ericschellpiano@gmail.com
    Austin TX
    512-363-6236
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  • 8.  RE: Removing Keytops

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-26-2019 19:37
    I don't claim to be an expert, but I used to use the Saf-T-Planer by Wagner. It mounts in a drill press and pushing the key under the rotating head planes off the keytop to whatever depth you want. The cutters are underneath the planer head. I don't know if they're still available. Usually a key is chucked in a vise, and using a flat piece of plywood mounted to the drill press table the vise and key is pushed under the cutting head. The cutting head looks like a little flying saucer seen from the side, about 4" diameter. Using a stop on the plywood board you can limit how far the cut is made, and thus every keystick is planed the same length. I can't recall who came up with this method (Spurlock?). It's critical when using this setup to be sure the planer head is parallel to the table, or all your keys will be planed at an angle (and look like a sawtooth in the piano)
    Don't ask..
    Also included with the Wagner planer is a grinding wheel which is used to sharpen the cutters. It's a pretty clever design. If you remove keytops with it, the blades will dull pretty fast, but you can sharpen them pretty fast with the wheel.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego




  • 9.  RE: Removing Keytops

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 08-26-2019 19:45
    ...and yes, the Safe-T-Planer is still available new from a couple suppliers (Amazon) and also used on Ebay... Google it.
    Paul McCloud
    San Diego