One of my keytops has come off, how shall I glue it?
I usually recommend using a solvent based glue for this purpose. Examples are: contact cement, rubber cement, "duco" cement, epoxy, and "crazy" glue. Water based glues such as "elmer's", or "tightbond" tend to cause genuine ivory to curl up as it is absorbed into it. Unless the piano is dismantled, the clamping options are next to none, and most of the glues I have recommended need no clamping.
Be sure the surfaces are clean. Scrape off any old glue that may be on the pieces. Wipe up any excess glue. If all else fails, follow the directions on the glue container. When possible, be sure to put the loose ivories back on exactly the key they came off of. Careful inspection of the glue surfaces and particularly the back edge of the ivory piece will lend clues to their placement.
If a sharp (black key) has come off, this is when you use the elmer's or tightbond type of wood glue. Put an even layer of glue on the bottom of the sharp, and carefully align it where it belongs. Wipe off the excess glue. It should not require clamping, which can cause it to slip out of alignment anyway.
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