Finishing touches

Details about the finish for the
​more discerning customers

Material

We use Wilsonart or Formica brand quality high-pressure laminates. While other finishes are available, this page is dedicated to laminate.

fit/finish/trim

Keyhole piano shells got its start focused on mobility. Most of our customers use Keyhole pianos on a dark stage with indiscriminate and undiscerning lighting. We allow imprecision and imperfections that are unnoticeable from 3 meters away.

Properly finished laminate exposes a thin line of the underlying material color along mating edges. This is typical and expected. The result is usually a dull brown color along edges. It is practically unnoticeable in a stage performance environment.

​​If you desire a more discerning finish, let us know so you are assured the look you expect.

color

Many different colors are available. Black is our most popular by a wide margin. Red and White are also requested with some regularity. Below are some of our more popular colors or ones we've done.

Currently [and subject to change] our standard colors/sheens are black gloss, black matte, red gloss and white gloss. Other colors or sheens are subject to added cost.

We are happy to send color samples of colors we have in stock.
​
For a comprehensive catalog or for color samples that we don't carry, visit the manufacturer's website:
Wilsonart
Formica

sheen

The sheen is how shiny the finish is. Sheens range from: flat - matte - satin - eggshell - gloss - high-gloss - mirror. The sheen options for laminates is a little more confusing because laminates also have options for texture. Since we don't generally use any of these more exotic texture options, we'll politely ignore them and focus on gloss and matte.
Recently a new product offered by Wilsonart is a fingerprint resistant finish and it looks really good. It's a little more expensive.
​Below are some real photos taken of the various sheens in black.
Picture
Clean laminate
Picture
Dirty laminate
Picture
Razor blade scratch

Cleaning/care

For regular cleaning we recommend a mild soap and water. Scrubby pads can scratch the gloss sheen. Go easy on the decals (logos) as they are just stickers. If you need a stronger cleaning solution, we use mineral spirits in the workshop to clean off the excess adhesive before packaging. Use strong chemicals on a hidden area first to test the effects.

resistance

Laminate is tough. It's the stuff that is still commonly used to cover and protect kitchen and bath countertops. It handles water fine but chemicals allowed to leech in at the edges will cause adhesive failures. Extreme heat should be avoided because it can soften the adhesive or cause excessive expansion of the material over the substrate. We've left pianos in our gear trailer in the cold Michigan winters and they've survived without any problems.

notes

Working with laminate has its challenges. The glue requires good contact and pressure by hand with a J-roller. We have arms like bears here. The high gloss sheen is especially difficult. Simple handling in the workshop can cause scuffs and scratches that while very mild, would be non-existent in other sheens.

all keyhole pianos include

AMS - accessory mount system

Add accessories to make your performance go smoothly.

Second to none support

We stand behind our products.

respect

Earn the respect of professionals and peers.