[sdiy] I've got one word for you: Plastics

[Richard Kirk Moore (rkmoore)]

Hi everyone,

It's been a long time since I've posted anything.  My current project is getting my Hammond H-111 organ fully operational.  It's in strikingly good condition, but several of the 50-year-old plastic keys have broken.  Instead of buying someone else's 50-year-old keys pulled from a donor organ, I am trying to cast new ones.  Using a Smooth-On OOMOO 30 silicone rubber and Smooth-Cast 300 urethane plastic I have made a mold and cast a key.  The resulting key is good and mounts in place nicely, but the new plastic is not quite as rigid as the original one.  As an EE, materials science is pretty far outside of my working knowledge.  Does anyone know of a better plastic that I could use at home for key casting? 

Thanks,
Richard