Are these keys repairable?

[knobby]

I've been on the lookout for an older, cheap accordion to pull apart and use to learn about repairing and tuning. I have the opportunity of one which has some scratching / gouging of the keys. I found an old post on here about sanding keys down with wet & dry paper then polishing up. Do you think the keys shown in the picture would clean up doing this or are they too far gone?

 

[Tom]

Hard to say, worth a try if it's a repair practice instrument anyway.

Or you could just clean them and consider them a "badge of vintage authenticity." Guitar players pay thousands of dollars to have their guitars look this beat up. ?

Good luck with the repairs, Knobby!

 

[JeffJetton]

Or you could just clean them and consider them a "badge of vintage authenticity."

Beausage!

 

[debra]

If you want to start with repairs using this accordion you might as well get new keytops and learn how to replace keytops.

 

[AccordionTop126]

Knobby, I completely agree with Paul. A set of acrylic (plexiglass) key tops will make your accordion look and feel like new. It is not a difficult repair

 

[knobby]

If you want to start with repairs using this accordion you might as well get new keytops and learn how to replace keytops.

Knobby, I completely agree with Paul. A set of acrylic (plexiglass) key tops will make your accordion look and feel like new. It is not a difficult repair

I'll see how I get on with the other repair tasks first and see how it turns out, as a quick look on t'internet would appear to show that a set of keytops will cost more than the accordion itself. But if I do a good job then it may be worthwhile.

 

[Ventura]

they look like plastic keys to me

anyhow, my friend Walter once took a waterfall plastic set
of pitted keys and resurfaced them (several applications with sanding)
using the Liquid Fiberglass body repair material used for Corvettes (cars)

it worked

 

[knobby]

they look like plastic keys to me

No, they are wood with plastic tops.

 

[Ventura]

No, they are wood with plastic tops.

thats good... then you can replace the tops

way easier than resurfacing them

 

[nagant27]

If you do replace them, post your progress here. It would be interesting to see. If you do it I’m thinking you will need a type of reciprocating saw and Some way to chamfer or bevel the edges.