Keytop Replacement
At least once in a piano’s lifetime, the keytops will need to be replaced. Whether it’s chipped or missing ivories or old plastic that has yellowed and warped over time, new keytops will greatly improve the look of the keyboard, as well as allow for precise adjustment of key height and key dip.
This previous keytop job was done improperly, using the incorrect glue, among other issues, causing the keys to eventually pop off with little effort.
Another example of a badly done keytop job, whereby the key tops are not flush with the key fronts, and the key fronts are crooked.
For a proper keytop job, the keys need to be milled flat, getting rid of old glue and creating a nice surface for new material.
An example of yellowed and missing ivory keys. Many of these ivories had come off previously, as you can tell by the distinct line between the head and the tail of the key.
An example of a newly installed set of keytops, replacing the ones from a previous bad job.
This piano is over 100 years old, but with new keytops, it looks fresh.