•Hi All, Mr. Kim Bunker here from playerpianos.com. Replacing ivory keys is really easy! First of all, if you need to have a source of original ivory tops and tails, you usually get these from a piano rebuilder or someone who replaces keytops for piano dealers. You can try to get as many as possible...

•Sorry for the late reply, but I cannot with good conscience leave the issue as it was suggested using Krazy Glue to glue ivory keytops. The method that I learned for replacing ivory keytops uses a special clamp for the purpose. I was able to obtain a set of them on eBay but I also have seen them in...

•Hi All, While I can certainly understand the position of Eliyahu Shahar or anyone else who has keys in their shop that need replacement ivories, the notion that the original method is the only acceptable way does not take reality into consideration. However, please know that I learned and mastered ...

•John et al, I basically do the same thing except, instead of using paint, I use PVC-E glue. I prepare the wood, as usual, then apply a medium coat of PVC-E glue. In the glue, I draw a zigzag with thin CA glue. Position the keytop and press. Hold it for a few seconds and wipe off the excess PVC-E gl...

•I'm at a rare loss of words. As a question of economics, a professional technician needs to do what his customers want, but as a matter of practice, I would say that the default when the piano is in the shop should be doing the method correctly. Looking at the investment of time in a restoration, i...

•Hi All, Again, Eliyahu Shahar (and others) probably share the concern about "un-doing" a repair that involves Krylon enamel paint and Krazy Glue. Friends, fear not! Being from the old school where the credo is "Do No Harm", my first test after developing the Krazy/Krylon technique was to take it ap...

•> Third, use a clothes iron and heat the ivory until it slips off. > (Remember, I mentioned that the mixture got warm as it was setting.) > Naturally, the heating technique can scorch and discolor the bone ivory. In response to John Tuttle's comments above on repairing ivory keytops, certainly the ...

•Hi, I am new to the method of repair of book music. I would also like to join small books together. I am also the owner of Mike Kitner's Bruder 80-note keyless. The center facade has been ended out sometime in it's life. Does anybody have a picture of this organ or have knowledge of what it might h...

•I am in the process of buying a 5'8" Mason and Hamlin Ampico grand and I have a definite key problem. Hopefully, someone will have some experiences and suggestions on this one. The piano was restored in the 1970's or 80's but the key tops were replaced with keys that actually fit like dental caps o...

•The go-to guy for keys is Michael Morvan: www.pianoandorgankeys.com www.thepianorebuilders.com Regards, Jon Page

•Hello MMD. My previous query about lower valve seats (080207 MMDigest) must have been so longwinded that nobody got to the end of it, where the actual question was, because I got only one reply. So this time I'll be more succinct. In September, 1996, I wrote to MMDigest describing a method I had de...

•I have found that Super Glue in the hole often is enough to firm up the wood and provide a solid hole for the screw, with no additional materials. This idea was given to my by an experienced rebuilder whose work I have always admired -- very accurate work. David Dewey

•This issue has been discussed at length on MMD a short time ago. Only under exceptional circumstances should botch job be performed, and I don't mind admitting that I have done this myself. For example, you are just completing a major rebuild, with correctly repaired screw holes, when one thread th...

•A bit of information about repairing stripped wood screw holes, based on my experience and tests I conducted. I have found that cyanoacrylate (Super Glue) when used with talcum powder will produce a repair which can be tapped and used with a machine screw will produce a stronger repair than the ori...

•Hello MMD. It's two weeks since I submitted my original query, so it's time to wind things up. I've had several replies for which I am most grateful. Nicholas Simons is quite correct: this subject has been written about before in MMD. When I read his posting it all came back; in fact I rather suspe...

•-- non-subscriber, please reply to sender and MMDigest -- Hello everyone: I am new to the forum and I just recently purchased a Steinway Duo-Art upright. The piano action is good and sound, however, when you plug in the motor and turn it on you will see the pump is slow. Disconnect the drive belt a...

•Please don't replace the steamboat pump. If you take the time to restore it, you will have a very silent and well operating pump! I know it takes more effort, but its well worth it, in my humble opinion. Bob Hodge

•I have a really old (1906) pneumatic instrument that has about 65 small bellows covered with rubberized cloth. The cloth was deteriorated to the point where many folds and even some flat areas were totally without rubber -- you could actually see the weave of the cloth. Since the pneumatics were fi...

•Paul Tang asked about a slow Duo-Art 'steamboat' pump in yesterday's MMDigest. If the pump is original, I'm sure it needs complete rebuilding. Any attempt to soften and seal the cloth usually results in a mess that doesn't end up working all that long anyway. If the pump hasn't ever been rebuilt, h...

•I have a baby grand piano that was dropped about two feet to the floor during moving and sustained damage to the case on the left front of the case. The damage is sort of a crush damage two inches across the front, one inch back from the corner and about 3/4-inch tall. The case is a darkish wood ve...