How to get rid of Scratches on Plastic Keyboard Keys?

[ChrisNabil]

Have any of you had experience getting scratches out of keyboard keys? I have had a Roland Atelier 900P organ for a while and hadn't gotten around to this little project. Some of the keys have multiple scratches and although obviously, it makes no difference to the playing but in certain lights, it looks rather bad. The scratches are light enough so you can't feel them but very apparent in certain lights.

Thank you!

 

[happyrat1]

You can order Liquid Plastic Polish from Amazon, but you'd have to completely disassemble the keyboard to use it without gumming up the works.

Amazon.com : plastic polish

Gary

 

[ChrisNabil]

Thanks Gary, Hmm, I kind of did some research on this and did find some plastic polish called Novus. I bought it for the plexiglass music rest as there are scratches on that too. I was going to try it on the keys but didn't know that I would need to remove them so THANK YOU!

 

[happyrat1]

Some DIY projects simply aren't worth the effort.

Gary

 

[ChrisNabil]

Some DIY projects simply aren't worth the effort.

Gary

You know what... your right Maybe some piano lacquer or something might just minimize them enough.

 

[happyrat1]

Be very careful with lacquers and organic solvents on plastic keys. The keys are polystyrene and you could really mess them up.

Test on an unseen surface of a key first, and lacquer may just wear away with use anyway.

Again, any chemical finish should only be used on a disassembled key anyway.

Gary

 

[ChrisNabil]

Be very careful with lacquers and organic solvents on plastic keys. The keys are polystyrene and you could really mess them up.

Test on an unseen surface of a key first, and lacquer may just wear away with use anyway.

Again, any chemical finish should only be used on a disassembled key anyway.

Gary

Nothing is straightforward, is it? actually, I did install a new shower head yesterday that took only 5 minutes! that will keep me riding on a crest of a wave lol

 

[happyrat1]

Saving Knuckleheads from themselves for over a tenth of a century.

.

Gary.

 

[ChrisNabil]

Hey!... everyone deserves to be one from time to time

 

[happyrat1]

Hey! first of all clean your keyboard keys with damp cloth and then dry it to remove any dirt. Now apply any polish like furniture polish, baking soda or plastic polish to the scratches on your keyboard. You can also apply toothpaste on scratches. It will help you to clean your keyboard and remove scratches.

And any polish that gets between the keys will foul the switches.

Gary

 

[ChrisNabil]

And any polish that gets between the keys will foul the switches.

Gary

Yeah, the organ cost me $7000 so I don't think I will be trying that! in my research, I have heard other people mention that technique also but I will just have to learn to live with the scratches I suppose.

 

[Old No7]

Maybe a buffing wheel in a Dremel Tool would work -- line it up so the wheel spins any stuff coming off of it "away from the inside the board" and throws it out over the end of the keys. If you used blue painters tape (easily removable) on the keys to each side, you might even get away with using a little polish or rouge on them.

I don't know though... With 61, 73 or 88 keys -- or even 49 -- it sounds like a lot of work.

Or, take the advice of the Rolling Stones and -- "Paint It Black"!

Old No7

 

[happyrat1]

If you want to do a proper paint job on an old ford, you don't start spraying until you've removed the chrome.

Anything else is a half assed job and you get what you paid for.

It doesn't matter what method you try. You simply DO NOT polish or paint the keys in situ.

It's simply not done.

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

Actually, the best thing Chris could do is simply buy a few replacement keys and slide them into place.

Gary

 

[ChrisNabil]

Actually, the best thing Chris could do is simply buy a few replacement keys and slide them into place.

Gary

Thanks, Gary!

 

[happyrat1]

Wise choice. If you're afraid of a screwdriver a qualified tech could replace them in under an hour.

Check your local classifieds for "musical instrument repair."

Should not cost more than $150-$200 including materials.

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

Actually, search for "organ repair."

It's a specialty all on its own.

Gary

 

[ChrisNabil]

Actually, search for "organ repair."

It's a specialty all on its own.

Gary

The trouble I have is the badly scratched keys are part of the low manual (keyboard) which is a "waterfall" type key. The organ which is a Roland might not have new parts as they no longer sell organs. Anyway, it really isn't a top priority well it would have been if it was an easy fix lol. Cheers, Gary.

 

[happyrat1]

There is a vibrant used market for that sort of thing on certain websites.

Companies like Syntaur.com and Fullcompass.com and Instrumentalparts.com all deal in recycled merchandise.

The color match might be better than new since they are the same vintage as your board.

Gary

 

[happyrat1]

You might want to ask over at

Home Organs - The Organ Forum

Discuss organs designed for the home and home entertainment here.

organforum.com

Gary