Thanks for your videos. Very informative. About balance rail pins tapping ... what do you do when you tap the balance rail pin, the key gets leveled, and now the back of the same kay rubs against its neighboring key? Do you file the rubbing key at the place of the contact with its neighboring key in order to get enough clearance?
Yes, if the front of the key is spaced correctly and the key is leveled then you may need to do a little sanding on the back of the key to keep the backs of the keystick from rubbing on it's neighbor.
Please can you do a video where you go through all of the tools in your piano regulating kit and explain briefly what they are? There's a few that I use regularly, but a couple that I've never used and I'm not entirely sure what they're called or what they're for.
Thank you for your comment! If you email us at info@howardpianoindustries.com with photos of the tools that you aren't sure about, we will help identify the tools and describe their uses.
Hi, I have a Estey upright that was made around 1919. Last fall we had a leak from the ceiling that soaked the keys and now a number of both the white and black keys stick. Prior to the water problem the piano was in tune and played regularly. After watching your videos, I think the felt was water damaged and probably need to be replaced. Can you refer me to a source for piano key felt? I'd like to approximate how much this is going to cost before I start to dig in. thanks
We have a website where we offer all kinds of felt for pianos including key bushing felt. We also have a set of two videos that show how to do this. Here is a link to the video which also has links to the felt and the tools needed to do the job: howardpianoindustries.com/piano-key-bushing-replacement/ Most likely the problem is that the key bushings swelled from getting wet and are the cause of the sticking keys.
Hi Howard for your quick reply. I decided to just give it away, we're moving and don't want to bring it with us. So I can give full disclosure, can you give a ballpark figure what it would cost for 1. a pro to repair it and 2. if done as a project. Half the ivories & as many of the ebony keys stick. I don't expect an in depth analysis, I realize you're only going by what I'm telling you. But, a rough estimate would be appreciated so I can pass along the information if someone is interested. Feel free to pm me if you don't want to publish your figures publiclly. Thanks.
The prices can vary quite a bit based on the area you're in and what technicians are charging in your area, but a ballpark estimate on average would be around $300 to replace all of the key bushings. The parts and tools needed to do the job would be around $25.
do you square the keys the same way in a grand piano? Tried it with my model M and had difficulty, when I moved the pin, the key would jam and I would need to twist it back the way it was for the key to function again, apparently the piano has pins that are not shaped roundly. Any advice?
Yes, the adjustment to the keys on grand pianos is the same. It could be that the problem you're having is that the key may be warped slightly which is causing the problem. I can't say for sure without seeing it, but this is one possibility.
Your video tutorials are very interesting and complete and for that I thank you and so continues
THANK YOU and Salutoni
Xavier
I love these videos! I used them to restore my 1936 Lester Betsy Ross Spinet
Thanks Howard, your videos are great, helping a lot.
Thank you!
thanks for making these awesome videos!
Thanks for your videos. Very informative. About balance rail pins tapping ... what do you do when you tap the balance rail pin, the key gets leveled, and now the back of the same kay rubs against its neighboring key? Do you file the rubbing key at the place of the contact with its neighboring key in order to get enough clearance?
Yes, if the front of the key is spaced correctly and the key is leveled then you may need to do a little sanding on the back of the key to keep the backs of the keystick from rubbing on it's neighbor.
Thanks for your quick response.
Please can you do a video where you go through all of the tools in your piano regulating kit and explain briefly what they are? There's a few that I use regularly, but a couple that I've never used and I'm not entirely sure what they're called or what they're for.
Thank you for your comment! If you email us at info@howardpianoindustries.com with photos of the tools that you aren't sure about, we will help identify the tools and describe their uses.
I am new to Piano and I want to learn these skills 👍
Do we have the same procedure fot digital pianos? Kawai ES110 to be specific
Hi,
I have a Estey upright that was made around 1919. Last fall we had a leak from the ceiling that soaked the keys and now a number of both the white and black keys stick. Prior to the water problem the piano was in tune and played regularly.
After watching your videos, I think the felt was water damaged and probably need to be replaced. Can you refer me to a source for piano key felt? I'd like to approximate how much this is going to cost before I start to dig in.
thanks
We have a website where we offer all kinds of felt for pianos including key bushing felt. We also have a set of two videos that show how to do this. Here is a link to the video which also has links to the felt and the tools needed to do the job: howardpianoindustries.com/piano-key-bushing-replacement/ Most likely the problem is that the key bushings swelled from getting wet and are the cause of the sticking keys.
Hi Howard for your quick reply. I decided to just give it away, we're moving and don't want to bring it with us.
So I can give full disclosure, can you give a ballpark figure what it would cost for
1. a pro to repair it and
2. if done as a project.
Half the ivories & as many of the ebony keys stick.
I don't expect an in depth analysis, I realize you're only going by what I'm telling you. But, a rough estimate would be appreciated so I can pass along the information if someone is interested.
Feel free to pm me if you don't want to publish your figures publiclly.
Thanks.
The prices can vary quite a bit based on the area you're in and what technicians are charging in your area, but a ballpark estimate on average would be around $300 to replace all of the key bushings. The parts and tools needed to do the job would be around $25.
howardpianoind Thanks for your time, much appreciated.
do you square the keys the same way in a grand piano? Tried it with my model M and had difficulty, when I moved the pin, the key would jam and I would need to twist it back the way it was for the key to function again, apparently the piano has pins that are not shaped roundly. Any advice?
Yes, the adjustment to the keys on grand pianos is the same. It could be that the problem you're having is that the key may be warped slightly which is causing the problem. I can't say for sure without seeing it, but this is one possibility.