Chapter 5 - Capping the Teeth
What You Need
We will be using a “reverse” keyboard – ebony natural keys and bone-tipped sharp keys. You are not limited by this choice. Key coverings are made out of several different woods and non-wood materials. Most of the directions given in this chapter will work for key coverings other than ebony.
- Ebony and Other Materials
- Any hardwood can be used for key coverings. Google "thin woods" and you will find many options-some already thinned to 1/8"
- If you prefer to buy ebony in sheet form (which is what I usually do), I’ve received excellent Gaboon Ebony (1/8” [3 mm] thick) from
The Wood & Shop, Inc.
1 sq. foot should be enough – get 2 sq. feet to be sure. If you have a drum sander, order the ebony 1/4" thick [6.35mm] as the 1/8" ebony
sometimes arrives less than 1/8" thick. The price is usually the same.
- Bone sharp coverings are available from Vogel, but the expense is substantial. Micarta and G10 are excellent, economical alternatives for bone - see "Bone Substitute" in Chapter 36, page 2.. Micarta is no longer available in 1/16" [1.57mm] thickness, but is available in .125" thickness. G10 is available in both .060" and .125" thickness. You will need a drum sander to reduce the thickness of .125" material down to about 1/16" [1.57mm].
- Exacto knife with package of blades.