Gluing on the Sharps

Now we can start gluing the sharps to their keysticks. Place a LIGHT coat of yellow glue or liquid hide glue on the key and the bottom of a sharp. I prefer liquid hide glue, as the addition of moisture and heat allows you to soften the glue joint should the sharp ever need to be removed. Place the sharp onto the key and use a rub-joint to glue them together. Make certain that the sharp is centered on its key and that the rear edge of the sharp touches the straightedge. No clamps are required. In the next photo the top 4 sharps have been glued to their keysticks. Note that the front of the sharps will overhang their keysticks.

On occasion you may find that a sharp has lifted slightly off of its keystick after the glue has dried. If you used hide glue, this is relatively easy to repair. You will need a heat gun and a vice. Heat the problem area of the sharp with the heat gun and immediately clamp it between the jaws of the vice. The heat will soften the glue and clamping it in the vice while the glue hardens will re-attach the sharp to its keystick.

This treatment will also work on any natural key covers that you install. Hide glue is your friend!