[sdiy] Synth Keybards and Number of Keys

[Quixotic Nixotic]

On 1 Mar 2007, at 17:12, Edward King wrote:

> I disagree.
>
> Having just gone down the road of custom-building my own keyboard,  
> I took
> several years to investigate all the options.

All the options?

OK, but an option you didn't mention is casting an octave set of  
existing keys and moulding them in GRP. Or make your own octave set  
in wood/acrylic/styrene/polycarbonate/whatever and cast those.

I have a lot of experience in this field. A cheap bag of plaster of  
paris (though 'herculite' is better), a tub of vaseline and a cheap  
car repair kit from Halfords and I would be well away. A tin of  
'Plastic Padding' or 'Decorfill' 2 part filler to rectify any small  
defects.

For good measure spray with some durable paint. I recommend the high- 
quality sprays from Graphotism if you are in the UK. The stuff is  
great, in big tins and around 2.50 pounds a can. Fantastic range of  
colours too.

http://www.graphotism.com/shopDetailList.asp?sid=202

Don't like paint? Then add colour to the clear resin when you cast  
it. Alec Tiranti's do it in small jars that will last you forever,  
you don't need much:

http://www.tiranti.co.uk/

This url will probably break, so search for polyester pigments.
<http://www.tiranti.co.uk/data/ASP/showsubdivision.asp? 
SubDivisionID=216&SubDivision=Polyester+Pigments+%2D+Opaque>

I have long wanted to make a curved keyboard - 360 degrees would be  
fun. Hang it off your shoulders and play all around yourself. Or  
perhaps a larger set that you can sit down inside and play on a  
swivel chair. Or a spiral, go around twice. Why not?

Maybe I should do a proof of concept here... time as always.

My first post,

John