Scoring the Head

If you've already scored the heads using the Key Scoring Jig (as mentioned in the previous chapter) skip ahead to page 6-7.

Now the decorating can begin. First we need to cut 3 horizontal lines, 1/8” [3 mm] apart, onto the top surface of each head. The first of these lines has already been cut. It is the joint line between the heads and tails that we just deepened.

Place some wood with heavy weights on top at the rear of the keys so they won’t go down at the front under the pressure of the X-Acto knife. To cut the second line, we clamp a straightedge across the keyboard 1/8” [3 mm] below the head/tail joint. Then using the X-Acto knife, we follow the straightedge and score each key very lightly and carefully. Then we do it again – four more times, to make sure the score line is deep enough. As the score line deepens we can apply more pressure on the knife but always being careful not to slip. There is no good way to recover from an error here so did I say “cut carefully”?

These three score lines must be 1/8" [3mm] apart. This is not easy to do with a solid straight edge. If possible, use a clear plastic straight edge so you can more accurately judge the space between score lines.