Piano Key Ivory

JG Custom Metal Works

JG Custom Metal Works

Joined
Nov 27, 2013
Messages
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So I’m seeing pianos listed for free left and right in the free section on my local Craigslist. I know, I know, a lot of people will say, it’s not worth the effort. But let’s set that aside. I have two dollys, a trailer with a ramp, and a friend to help. It really wouldn’t really take much effort at all to pick it up. I’d wheel it into my garage, part it out, and then trash the unused parts. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t plan on destroying beautiful baby grand pianos for handle material. But if I can find a beat up old piano, that would cost a ton to repair, that has useable ivory keys, I might grab it up.

What is the best way to identify whether the keys are ivory or synthetic?

What’s the best way to remove the keys?

Also, has anyone here used piano keys on knife handles?

I was thinking about using them as inlays, bolsters, or possibly laminating some together to do a hidden tang block.

Any advice?
 
Upright pianos can make a cool sitdown jewelers type workbench... Even gutted, they are quite solid & heavy.
All the better if that piano has alot of fancy woodwork.
 
Yeah, the scraps I've gotten off pianos average about a 1/16" thick. They're useful, but without any provenance to prove they're pre-ban I don't know how you could sell anything?

Mine has all been personal use :)
IMG_20180628_050112.jpg

~Chip
 
WValtakis said:
Yeah, the scraps I've gotten off pianos average about a 1/16" thick. They're useful, but without any provenance to prove they're pre-ban I don't know how you could sell anything?

Mine has all been personal use :)
View attachment 1023855

~Chip
Click to expand...

I wonder if pics of the piano would suffice? Especially if the piano had a sticker or plate on it with information on it. You could take a pic of that, then pics of you removing the ivory from the keys...

So am I correct in assuming that the only ivory part of the key is the top 1/16”? Do they just glue it onto a synthetic or wooden block that makes up the lower part of the key? How did you get them apart? I’m thinking maybe wedging a sharp chisel in between the two pieces...
 
That's exactly what I've found, and the way I have removed them from the wood key "base".

I wouldn't try to sell anything without consulting a lawyer versed in ivory law.

~Chip
 
A few years back I've bought a few of those thin strips for a dollar each.
They make nice inlays but I wouldn't move a piano around for them.
 
Another thing people don't realize is that most pianos are not usually solid wood, and the black color is usually a black varnish.
 
G
JG Custom Metal Works said:
So I’m seeing pianos listed for free left and right in the free section on my local Craigslist. I know, I know, a lot of people will say, it’s not worth the effort. But let’s set that aside. I have two dollys, a trailer with a ramp, and a friend to help. It really wouldn’t really take much effort at all to pick it up. I’d wheel it into my garage, part it out, and then trash the unused parts. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t plan on destroying beautiful baby grand pianos for handle material. But if I can find a beat up old piano, that would cost a ton to repair, that has useable ivory keys, I might grab it up.

What is the best way to identify whether the keys are ivory or synthetic?

What’s the best way to remove the keys?

Also, has anyone here used piano keys on knife handles?

I was thinking about using them as inlays, bolsters, or possibly laminating some together to do a hidden tang block.

Any advice?
Click to expand...
dY


I love the way you are thinking because I’m pondering the very same thing myself.

You will be looking for pianos pre 1940’s. I’d also like to try and reuse the spruce and other woods (yes I know much is veneer) but I’m thinking there has to be a way to upcycle these mistreated, no longer loved instruments.

While the ivory keys are only veneers if you collect enough it would be fun to play around with. Heating the keys should be sufficient to lift the ivory off the wood key block. I’m going to give it a go in the next few weeks anyway. If you find out a better way let me know.

Going to be fun!

Kitty.Kat!
 
I would buy the keys rather than do all that work for them. Mostly inlay material is what they are good for, even if all 50 or so come off fine and you value them at $5 each it seems like a lot of work. Now, if it is an upright and you can turn that base into a nice bench or such and make money there it may change the calculation.
 
I seem to recall my wife's piano tuner taking the whole keyboard assembly out en masse to work on it at his shop. Am I misremembering this? That's beat moving the whole piano somewhere.

Just sayin.....................

Syn
 
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