Installing New Key Tops

Got my bucket 'o keys ready to be de-cellulosed. Removing all the ivory from the tops of the keys was fairly easy.  Most of the ivory just popped off.  When replacing the tops with new plastic ones that have the fronts molded in, you need to remove the old cellulose which was used back in the day for the fronts of the keys.  It's more of a thick coating than a solid piece that can be pulled or pried off.

I found the best way was to (carefully) use the miter saw to trim away the cellulose. You have to be very careful not to cut too much, otherwise the fronts of your keys will not be even and that could look bad. Cut just enough to see the wood in the front and maybe just a shadow of some of the leftover cellulose.

This is the replacement key top. They are slightly over sized and need trimming once attached to the key.

Once attached, the new tops need to be trimmed down with a file to fit the key. Care must be taken not to file too far and into the wood. This would create unevenness and larger gaps between keys

These are key tops installed and trimmed to fit the keys. It's a lot of tedious work gluing, then filing all 52 white keys but then again, you ARE restoring a piano!