Pianotech

Thanks to a mouse infestation, I'm going to be refelting the keybed, replacing all punchings, leveling the keys and laying touch on a 1958 Baldwin Acrosonic spinet.   The piano  has sentimental value for the customer and he would like it brought back to "recreational" usage. 
Having spent most of my life in a rural (poor) Appalachian region, it's probably been a couple decades or more since I've been asked to perform this task; so I'm curious as to whether anyone has developed any new techniques or tools in the interim. 

Are we all still using straight edges, key dip blocks, or the key leveling devices (from Schaff)?

Lastly -- Is the "piano action handbook" still the best source for action specs?   (Mine is the 1971 edition -- probably need to update it?)

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
------------------------------

Timothy,

Not much has changed. You've got a handle on it.

Pwg

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2020 17:35
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Thanks to a mouse infestation, I'm going to be refelting the keybed, replacing all punchings, leveling the keys and laying touch on a 1958 Baldwin Acrosonic spinet.   The piano  has sentimental value for the customer and he would like it brought back to "recreational" usage.
Having spent most of my life in a rural (poor) Appalachian region, it's probably been a couple decades or more since I've been asked to perform this task; so I'm curious as to whether anyone has developed any new techniques or tools in the interim.

Are we all still using straight edges, key dip blocks, or the key leveling devices (from Schaff)?

Lastly -- Is the "piano action handbook" still the best source for action specs?   (Mine is the 1971 edition -- probably need to update it?)

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
------------------------------

What's the preferred glue these days for the backrail cloth?   Titebond?  Contact cement?  It's been so long since I've done this I can't remember what I used to use for this.

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-22-2020 09:29
From: Peter Grey
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Timothy,

Not much has changed. You've got a handle on it.

Pwg

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2020 17:35
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Thanks to a mouse infestation, I'm going to be refelting the keybed, replacing all punchings, leveling the keys and laying touch on a 1958 Baldwin Acrosonic spinet.   The piano  has sentimental value for the customer and he would like it brought back to "recreational" usage.
Having spent most of my life in a rural (poor) Appalachian region, it's probably been a couple decades or more since I've been asked to perform this task; so I'm curious as to whether anyone has developed any new techniques or tools in the interim.

Are we all still using straight edges, key dip blocks, or the key leveling devices (from Schaff)?

Lastly -- Is the "piano action handbook" still the best source for action specs?   (Mine is the 1971 edition -- probably need to update it?)

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
------------------------------

The dating of responses on this thread are confusing.
Tim -
I use hot hide glue with some idea to slow the drying time.  If the previous geometry worked, you should definitely reproduce it.  Use under-felt if you can.  Cut the cloth accurately so it doesn't bunch up. Consider gluing only the front edge to (perhaps) reduce impact noise.

------------------------------
David Skolnik [RPT]
Hastings-on-Hudson NY
917-589-2625
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-16-2020 21:07
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

What's the preferred glue these days for the backrail cloth?   Titebond?  Contact cement?  It's been so long since I've done this I can't remember what I used to use for this.

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636

Original Message:
Sent: 08-22-2020 09:29
From: Peter Grey
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Timothy,

Not much has changed. You've got a handle on it.

Pwg

------------------------------
Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2020 17:35
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Thanks to a mouse infestation, I'm going to be refelting the keybed, replacing all punchings, leveling the keys and laying touch on a 1958 Baldwin Acrosonic spinet.   The piano  has sentimental value for the customer and he would like it brought back to "recreational" usage.
Having spent most of my life in a rural (poor) Appalachian region, it's probably been a couple decades or more since I've been asked to perform this task; so I'm curious as to whether anyone has developed any new techniques or tools in the interim.

Are we all still using straight edges, key dip blocks, or the key leveling devices (from Schaff)?

Lastly -- Is the "piano action handbook" still the best source for action specs?   (Mine is the 1971 edition -- probably need to update it?)

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
------------------------------

Yep.. go for it.

------------------------------
Jeffrey Gegner
Tipton IN
765-860-5900
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2020 17:35
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Thanks to a mouse infestation, I'm going to be refelting the keybed, replacing all punchings, leveling the keys and laying touch on a 1958 Baldwin Acrosonic spinet.   The piano  has sentimental value for the customer and he would like it brought back to "recreational" usage.
Having spent most of my life in a rural (poor) Appalachian region, it's probably been a couple decades or more since I've been asked to perform this task; so I'm curious as to whether anyone has developed any new techniques or tools in the interim.

Are we all still using straight edges, key dip blocks, or the key leveling devices (from Schaff)?

Lastly -- Is the "piano action handbook" still the best source for action specs?   (Mine is the 1971 edition -- probably need to update it?)

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
------------------------------

Hi Jeffrey:
The only advice I'd give is to make sure the back rail felt is the same thickness as before. DAMHIK. If it's too thick, the geometry will be upset and there will be lots of excess friction. This is where the "Magic Line" comes into play. If you're careful to keep the back rail felt the same, everything else will fall into place.
As far as how to actually do the job, I'd suggest putting something under the #1 and #88 key to keep them at the correct height, and maybe a couple in between, so you can lay a straightedge across the keys without it pressing on the keys and upsetting the leveling. Also, you might want to compress or iron the balance rail felt punchings so they are stable and won't change dimension. I used to have a very nice system I got from a now deceased tech named Mr. Meyer. It had a weighted tube mounted behind a nice aluminum rail, with special adjustable supports for the keys, as I mentioned above. It also had a separate jig for adapting the straightedge to do the sharp keys. And a tapered, marked wedge for setting dip. I no longer have the jig. If you want to get REALLY high tech, look at Chris Brown's regulation jigs. He's got everything covered for any and all regulation jobs.
Good luck. Actually, it's kinda fun. Except if you do it wrong and have to do it over.
Paul McCloud
San Diego


Original Message:
Sent: 8/24/2020 4:14:00 PM
From: Jeffrey Gegner
Subject: RE: refelting, leveling keys

Yep.. go for it.

------------------------------
Jeffrey Gegner
Tipton IN
765-860-5900
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2020 17:35
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Thanks to a mouse infestation, I'm going to be refelting the keybed, replacing all punchings, leveling the keys and laying touch on a 1958 Baldwin Acrosonic spinet.   The piano  has sentimental value for the customer and he would like it brought back to "recreational" usage.
Having spent most of my life in a rural (poor) Appalachian region, it's probably been a couple decades or more since I've been asked to perform this task; so I'm curious as to whether anyone has developed any new techniques or tools in the interim.

Are we all still using straight edges, key dip blocks, or the key leveling devices (from Schaff)?

Lastly -- Is the "piano action handbook" still the best source for action specs?   (Mine is the 1971 edition -- probably need to update it?)

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
------------------------------

for a straight edge, pick up a piece of 1" aluminum square tube. Works great. Paul has it right, block the keys on the end to support the straight edge.

------------------------------
Jeffrey Gegner
Tipton IN
765-860-5900
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-24-2020 21:47
From: Paul McCloud
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Hi Jeffrey:
The only advice I'd give is to make sure the back rail felt is the same thickness as before. DAMHIK. If it's too thick, the geometry will be upset and there will be lots of excess friction. This is where the "Magic Line" comes into play. If you're careful to keep the back rail felt the same, everything else will fall into place.
As far as how to actually do the job, I'd suggest putting something under the #1 and #88 key to keep them at the correct height, and maybe a couple in between, so you can lay a straightedge across the keys without it pressing on the keys and upsetting the leveling. Also, you might want to compress or iron the balance rail felt punchings so they are stable and won't change dimension. I used to have a very nice system I got from a now deceased tech named Mr. Meyer. It had a weighted tube mounted behind a nice aluminum rail, with special adjustable supports for the keys, as I mentioned above. It also had a separate jig for adapting the straightedge to do the sharp keys. And a tapered, marked wedge for setting dip. I no longer have the jig. If you want to get REALLY high tech, look at Chris Brown's regulation jigs. He's got everything covered for any and all regulation jobs.
Good luck. Actually, it's kinda fun. Except if you do it wrong and have to do it over.
Paul McCloud
San Diego


Original Message:
Sent: 8/24/2020 4:14:00 PM
From: Jeffrey Gegner
Subject: RE: refelting, leveling keys

Yep.. go for it.

------------------------------
Jeffrey Gegner
Tipton IN
765-860-5900

Original Message:
Sent: 08-21-2020 17:35
From: Timothy Edwards
Subject: refelting, leveling keys

Thanks to a mouse infestation, I'm going to be refelting the keybed, replacing all punchings, leveling the keys and laying touch on a 1958 Baldwin Acrosonic spinet.   The piano  has sentimental value for the customer and he would like it brought back to "recreational" usage.
Having spent most of my life in a rural (poor) Appalachian region, it's probably been a couple decades or more since I've been asked to perform this task; so I'm curious as to whether anyone has developed any new techniques or tools in the interim.

Are we all still using straight edges, key dip blocks, or the key leveling devices (from Schaff)?

Lastly -- Is the "piano action handbook" still the best source for action specs?   (Mine is the 1971 edition -- probably need to update it?)

------------------------------
Timothy Edwards
Beckley WV
740-517-7636
------------------------------