How To Fix Chipped Piano Keys

This video shows the process I use for fixing chipped piano keys. I decided to do it becaue there are not many videos out there showing the process. I hope it helps. Here is a list of the materials used in the video:
-“AcryliKey II” kit and here is their contact information: wagner-technical.com or e-mail them at [e-mail]
-Metal files (flat mini file, square mini file and round mini file)
-Rotary tool
-Polishing compound
-Buffer paste
-A microfiber towel
-A towel to cover the keys(which I forgot to place in the beginning of the video)
Recommendation: You can use gloves and a face mask while filing and sanding the keys. I prefer to work these details carefully with bare hands.
Here are the times stamps for each step:
2:46 Groove Making
5:53 AcryliKey Mixing
7:30 AcryliKey Application
8:50 Extra Tools Used for the project
10:55 File Sanding
15:30 Sandpaper
16:40 Polishing
19:17 Buffing
If you have any questions, please feel free to write it in the comment section below. I’m available to consider any requests for fixing your chipped piano keys!

[@jaredmaltba8340]

Thank you for this video! I learned some things I wish I had known the first time I used this kit!

[@eddielozada3694]

I’m glad to be of help.

[@MsMesem]

I'm trying to get hold of a kit but the UK distributers do no respond!

[@eddielozada3694]

@@MsMesem Yep, they dont push the product too much even though it is a great product. I suggest you keep trying and wait a few days. If you dont get answer from UK distributor then you can always try to contact US and pay a little more for shipping. They were pretty fast with my order. Good luck!

[@MsMesem]

@@eddielozada3694 Thanks for your reply. I will try to phone tomorrow. I am looking at a piano for sale of which almost all the keys are chipped but for the rest seems in good condition. I'm in continental Europe where the product seems to be unknown.

[@eddielozada3694]

@@MsMesem If there are too many chipped keys you may consider put a complete set of key tops. It is easier to do than repair many keys.

[@gbh0015]

Very useful, thanks.

[@eddielozada3694]

Thanks!

[@MsMesem]

Yes! AcrylicKey are really not doing much to push the use of their product ie facilitate its' use.

[@davidhankin6720]

Is the keytop that you repair in this video ivory or plastic? My hunch is that the keyfronts were not replaced and are yellowed ivory, but the key top looks like a single piece of plastic.

[@eddielozada3694]

Hello David! No plastic. Its a Yamaha baby grand, same material for the whole key.

[@ucgiangmusic1878]

Thay luôn phím cho rồi, vá kiểu này sao chấp nhận được

[@eddielozada3694]

Hello. Thanks for your message. There are two good reasons for doing this kind of repair with this kit. Number one is cost. A new key is very expensive, in my case I had various damaged keys with small chips and I did not wanted to spend a huge amount of money on new keys because the keys wood part were in perfect condition and color of a new key would never be the same as the color of the old keys. Which take us to the number two reason: the color. With this kit you can mix the ingredients to match the color of your old keys to perfection in such degree that it is almost impossible to detect a repaired key from a non repaired key. That way you can have a great looking keybed without spending a huge amount of money. Yes, it is a little work but for me it was very rewarding to fix my beloved instrument and to see the end results. It also was very fun to do. I tried to find same color complete keytops but all were very different color tone, it looked horrible. The repair was done more than 3 years ago and it is still looking great and solid. So now I can truly say this product is really good. Have a great day!

[@W-HealthPianoExercises]

why not change the key top ?

[@eddielozada3694]

Hello. That was my first idea but soon I learned that it would be virtually impossible to match the color of the original ivory keys since their color change over time. New key tops are very white(plastic). My piano is 56 years old and the ivory keys are not very white anymore. With this kit you can get a closer color so the fixed parts are virtually impossible to perceive.

[@ThePolypam]

​@@eddielozada3694 If your piano is 20 y.o. it is definitely not ivory. That material was outlawed in the 1970s. Perhaps your piano is much older, 50 to 60 years.

[@eddielozada3694]

@@ThePolypam You are totally right. It was my mistake. It is Ivory and it was built in Japan in 1968 so in reality it is 56 years old as of today. It's pretty old but I still find it beautiful. Have a great day!

[@ThePolypam]

@@eddielozada3694 You too! And thanks for the tutorial) it's just what I was looking for.

[@davidemarchi6366]

it is not advisable make this over the top of other keys... cover them!!

[@eddielozada3694]

Yes, I forgot to place the towel at the beginning of the video. Good observation. Then I did place the towel. Thanks.