Leveling the Keys
Take a close look at the front edges of these 30 keys and determine which one is the highest. Using a ruler, measure that key’s
height above the surface of the table saw. If it’s between 2 1/8” [53.9mm] and 2 1/4” [57mm] we’ll use the measured dimension as our key height.
Chances are the highest key will be less than 2 1/8” [53.9mm]. If that’s the case, we’ll use 2 3/16” [55.5 mm] as our key height. So the task ahead
is to make each natural key exactly the same height above the table saw table. For the purposes of this discussion, we’ll assume
a key height of 2 3/16” [55.5 mm]. We could attain that goal by directly measuring each key's height with a ruler and then adding (or subtracting)
paper punching from the key’s balance rail pin. That wouldn’t be a very accurate way of approaching the problem. Here’s a better way!
Using a ruler, measure the height of the 1st natural key and the last natural key on the keyboard. Chances are they will both be less than
2 3/16" [55.5mm]. Remove the keys by lifting them up off of their balance rail pins. From your paper punching collection, guestimate how thick a
paper punching you would have to add to bring the key height up to 2 3/16" [55.5mm]. Take the paper punching and place it on top of the felt
punching already on the balance rail pin. Then re-install the key and measure its height. Repeat this procedure until the key height
is exactly 2 3/16" [55.5mm] on both the 1st and last keys on the keyboard.
