Introduction: MINI-PIANO

About: A retired electronics engineer -motorola. delveing into new craft ideas and contest entries.
iNTRO- HOW TO MAKE A MINIATURE INSTRUMENT PLAYED LIKE  A PIANO.
    
    This Instructable illustrates the steps in making a stringed instrument to which piano keys are added and played like a piano over 2 octaves. This Instructable  is based on my earlier Instructable on making a mini-zither {posted Aug.5, 2009. but adds keys.

Step 1: MATERIALS-Preliminary Instructions

This step will describe the device . I initially made a stringed instrument  I called a zither in my earlier Instructable titled "how to make a mini-zither of 2 octaves" Please refer to it for basics of using elastic poly-string materials and tuning. However, I included another resonating box construction that is of a smaller dimension for this piano project. After making the assembly, stringing, tuning, etc. the final step is to add piano-like keys which I have outlined in my Lab-Book pages here for ease of assembly.
   A little input here is required. A true piano has keys that strike the wire strings. I have deviated from this mechanism by inventing a different method of sounding the string note. It entails a novel method of grabbing the string with an adhesive pad that then pulls the string up , releases it to sound a note.The adhesive I have chosen is Uglu (r) by Mactac {www.ugluit.com} .Packages for  a dollar  are available from craft stores.
Packages  contain enough adhesive strips for several instruments. Other adhesive tapes (two-sided) can be used as Scotch[R] mounting adhesive or Foam- tapes  for mounting pictures on a wall.
      Lifting arm- Use coffee-stirring sticks of wood.See details in note book.
      Tubing - again I found stir sticks of plastic would work that a coat-hanger wire would feed in-to. Wire is used as an axle for the keys to rotate on.
       Gluing the wood sticks to the tubes is done with paste type adhesives as two part epoxy. {Eclectic Products  Super-mend epoxy.}
       Keys- Use vertically mounted wood sticks  glue to end.
       Weights- used for application of downward force to the glue tipped wood sticks onto the strings.I found Plumbers solder to be easily formed to correct weight. I experimented with wire springs  and found them hard to set correct down pressure.
       Overall covering- any plastic and cardboard to locate the keys  as in a piano.

Step 2: SOUNDING BOX

USED A CIGAR BOX AS A RESONATOR.IT GAVE A LOUD ,CLEAR NOTE SOUNDING.

A hole was drilled in one side about 1 inch diameter. With this I could place a wireless Mike and get a very loud musical sound. I used a Hanna Montana  mike for $6.00 .
     To repair-  Remove the wire axle carefully  from one end and lift off the key that needs repair.

Step 3: ASSEMBLY OF KEYS

Assembly of keys and  adhesive tapes.

1-layout  of sticks for each note.
     Apply a square of tape to ends of all sticks
    lay sticks side-by-side  so they are spaced  1/2 inch apart , with one end  with adhesive  touches a string. Apply a strip of  scotch clear tape over the sticks on the arrangment outlined.Carfully remove the assembly of sticks  and lay  on a flat surface.Dont let the adhesive stick tips touch anything.
2- Assembly of sticks to the plastic tubing-  lay tubing across sticks and apply glue under each stick and over the tubing .
3-sepparting  sticks- Use Exacto blade and cut beteen each stick. Run  the coat-hanger wire through the tubes after the assembly is placed into mounting rsonator.
4-Weights are added-Cut to length and fold 3 times and glue to ends of sticks.
5- Keys. cut some sticks and mount  sideways  with Goop adhesives.



Step 4: COMPLETION

Complete the assembly- This  box design uses  cross bars that support the  the wire  axle.
        Test the sticks and adhesion to the strings.It should be a sharp release note that sounds for 2 seconds until the key is released and  is now non-vibrating state. Use a block
of Poly foam[urethane] to stop the down word travel of the keys.  see note book pages and pictures..
Add a piece of card board above the keys and mark the sharps notes locations.

THIS COMPLETES THE PIANO ASSEMBLY-- HAVE FUN PLAYING. [Let me know  of  any problems.