[CAUT] Clean-up Prepared Piano

[Ed Sutton]

Dennis-

You might begin by scraping with a scalpel and see if the stuff will flake off dry.

Ed Sutton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dennis Johnson 
  To: caut at ptg.org 
  Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 4:44 PM
  Subject: Re: [CAUT] Clean-up Prepared Piano


  Thanks...   I have some time to think about it before acting.  I should have mentioned I rate this piano as our #3 Steinway D.  10 years ago it was probably #1.  Anyway, clearly plastic won't provide much protection from acetone.  That was dumb rambling on my part.  Perhaps something like a small metal tin directly under each spot while brushing to catch run off- with as much towel as can be?  I think I can do that.  It's at least worth a try.  Actually what concerned me most was not knowing what acetone would do to the copper. 

  Dennis.


  On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 1:47 PM, Fred Sturm <fssturm at unm.edu> wrote:


    On Feb 26, 2010, at 12:26 PM, Dennis Johnson wrote:


      There hasn't been enough time to quantify aural changes in the tone of these notes, but anything that solidifies into the windings will make a difference.  Besides, as far as I'm concerned the visual damage is upsetting enough... and totally unacceptable.  I talked to Arledge this morning and we came up with stuffing a towel and some plastic or whatever under the strings to protect the board, then trying to brush it out with acetone.  Anybody ever tried this before?  I really don't want to replace them.  There isn't enough time as it is.

      thanks,

      Dennis Johnson
      ___________________


    I haven't done it, but I'd suggest if you go this way, you should try to wick away as much as you can from above, with absorbent material of some sort. That is, brush on acetone, blot away, repeat. As opposed to flooding it down to the towel, which risks/invites material being washed into the windings and between them and the core. Possibly use alternating wet and dry cloth (wet cloth instead of brush).
           I have a piano with markings like this, an old G-2. I haven't bothered doing anything, but have thought about it (every time I tune it). I have decided the risks are too great, since the strings sound fine as is, and the piano is now in a practice room (was in a faculty studio, former piano faculty member marked it).

    Regards,
    Fred Sturm
    University of New Mexico
    fssturm at unm.edu






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