Could a technician please tell me if there is a widely used or accepted tool that you use to measure key dip (should be 9 to 10 mm?). I would like to acquire such a tool, for my own devious purposes of course . Also, isn't there a parameter called "downweight" that is frequently measured by piano technicians? Did I read that this is done by placing successively heavier masses on a key until you get one that will push the key all the way to the bottom? Or is the requirement to actually make the note sound ever so faintly? Thanks for any help.
Rick

Rick,we use an assorment of tools to measure key-dip.The are keydip blocks of different thicknesses,3/8ths,13/32 nds,7/8ths,and 10 mm.There also are gauges available from the likes of Glen Hart and others in the PTG.To answer your question on down-weight,would take a long time,but simply put you would use a set of accurate gram weights.By placing say a 50 gram weight on the top of a key front,and with the damper system disengaged the key should slowly drop to the point of let-off.Each manufacturers specification for downweight across the keyboard is different,so is the up-weight spec,which is the amount of weight a key will lift from the point of let-off to where the key is back to it's starting position.Again this is measured with the damper system disengaged.

Thanks a lot for your response, Curry. Is it possible for me to see (and possibly order) a set of these keyblocks online? Or the other type from Glen Hart? First I would like to just see what they look like, then I may want to purchase (either online or locally). Regarding the downweight value, it is a little different than I thought. You're saying that the key should not even make it to "stroke bottom", right? It only need make it to[/b] the "let-off (or set-off?)" region. It sounds like it doesn't even have to make it through the letoff region, just up to it. Please let me know if that's a correct interpretation or not. Thanks Much.

Rick

Rick,I'm not sure if you can buy the key-dip blocks on line,they are only available through the piano supply houses like Schaff and Pianotek etc,where you must have an account.The downweight procedure is correct,the gram weights are placed on the key front and with the damper system disengaged,the key will slowly sink to where the jack engages the let-off button.The key does not depress all the way down,nor should any sound be heard.You are only weighing dynamic and static touchweight( up and down weight) in this manner,using mathematical equations to measure the friction and balance weight of each key. Why do you want the dip blocks?Each piano is different there are really no set parameters just a spec for each action model.One Steinway can be set up with a 10mm dip,another would not function well with a 10mm dip,but 9.5mm would work just fine.