Button (key) repair

[Robin Harrison]

Can anyone help with the issue of replacing the missing button cap..... I do not have it.

    (Also never noticed the little holes on the side of the shaft, they are from a Lachenal tenor.)

                        Thanks as always.

Robin

[alex_holden]

I think the "touches" are silver - not sure whether fine or Sterling, soft-soldered onto the end of a tube. The little hole lets gases generated by the soldering process escape. I expect a local jewellery-maker who works in silver could sort it for you.

[d.elliott]

Hello Robin,

 

Are these bone buttons with metal caps? do you have a picture of a complete button assembly, or is that what we are seeing on the lower key? What is the diameter of the key body?

 

 

[Alex West]

Robin

I had exactly the same issue with a Lachenal New Model Duet which I restored.  As Alex H suggests, the local jeweller helped me out and it wasn't too costly either

 

Alex West

[Robin Harrison]

Quote

what we are seeing on the lower key? What is the diameter of the key body?

Dave......all metal and the lower one is a complete unit but the attached image maybe easier to see. 

                        Diam =4.5mm

 

    

[gcoover]

The quick fix is to switch it out with another button from a note you never play, maybe way up in the top end?

Gary

[Robin Harrison]

Could do Gary, but this is a restoration so got to do it right! 

                Thanks for the help everyone.....just took it to a jeweler who will laser weld a cap on.

      Will post the result when complete

Robin

[alex_holden]

9 hours ago, Robin Harrison said:

                Thanks for the help everyone.....just took it to a jeweler who will laser weld a cap on.

 

Blimey, that's a bit high tech.

[Robin Harrison]

Quote

Blimey, that's a bit high tech.

...................that's what I thought; but he explained there is very little heat transference up the key....very localised application of heat.

            I am  curious to find out how much I will pay for this modern technology........

[d.elliott]

Some time ago I had some SS caps made to be bonded in place, they work well but they are the wrong sort silver to look at. It will be interesting to see what the cost will be.

 

Dave

[Robin Harrison]

Here's the follow up......cost Cnd $ 56.00 ( £31.00)

     I thought this was quite pricey; in hindsight I should have taken it to a small independant jeweller rather than a province-wide chain.

           Nice job though............the bottom key, with three dampers, is the repaired one.

 

[David Barnert]

Looks like the domes are not quite the same shape. Will that be a problem?

 

In this image, I’ve used Photoshop to make the keys parallel and adjust the shadows and contrast a little.

 

[JimmyG]

7 minutes ago, David Barnert said:

Looks like the domes are not quite the same shape

 

I think it might be a bit of an optical delusion. Either way it's got to be within pretty miniscule tolerances. Maybe it is a bit more rounded, but I'd be pretty happy with that job.