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Replacing & Gluing Ivory Keytops
By Jon Page

Super Glue or Krazy Glue will not keep the ivory attached over the long
haul.  The bond does not stand up after a few seasons of the ivory and
wood swelling and contracting.  That is one reason for the glue wafers,
to compensate for their differing expansion and contraction rates.

However, a type of Super Glue which I have found to be suitable for
field repairs is Zap-A-Dap-A-Goo-II.  It is a contact type adhesive
and remains flexible, which is why I have had better success with its
application.  The other CA glues are too rigid.  For shop repairs, hot
hide with Sho-white and wafers.

Speaking of a rigid bond, have you noticed cracked plastic key tops
on pianos from the past few decades?  The cracks in the plastic are
caused by the wood expanding and not the plastic; with the rigid bond,
something has to give.  So when you glue on new plastic key tops,
use PVC-E glue.  Because it remains flexible, it is also suitable for
gluing reinforcement corner patches on bellows cloth and wind motors,
etc.

Regards,

Jon Page, piano technician
Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.
mailto:jonpage@comcast.net


(Message sent Sat 10 Apr 2004, 11:27:26 GMT, from time zone GMT-0400.)

Key Words in Subject:  Gluing, Ivory, Keytops, Replacing

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