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The
restoration of ivory keytops
The first
and most important contact between player and instrument runs
through the keys.
The touching of these keys is the human movement that sets forth
a series of technical actions in the inside of the piano, resulting
into sound.
It's a delicate connection between hand and ear.
The keys
should be almost as sensitive as the skin of the fingers of the
pianist.
Careful attention to the surface of the keys is for that reason
very important.
As key top,
ivory has the primary quality of absorbing sweat. Therefore it
feels much nicer than acrylic when you play.
There have been many experiments using different kind of acrylics
or for instance bone. Regrettably there has not been found an
alternative for ivory, with the same properties.
It is not
possible to buy a new piano with ivory key tops, because of the
ban on ivory trade.
An old piano can still have ivory key tops.
Unfortunately a lot of ivory has been replaced with acrylic key
tops in the past.
A damaged
ivory keyboard can be restored satisfactorily, unless the ivory
has become too thin.
Using techniques from the dentistry we can repair broken pieces
of ivory almost without a trace.
Loose ivory
key tops are glued back with special glue. Following is the
careful sanding, bleaching if necessary and polishing of the ivory
key tops.
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The damaged area is prepared with a dental drill to make further
treatment possible

The surface is treated with different chemicals

A special composite is applied and hardened with Ultraviolet light

The last action is the sanding and polishing of the ivory key
top
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