That's extremely interesting Bill. You're right about the age of the piano I refinished. Thanks for the info. It will come in very handy. Ted Simmons >On Thu, 5 Sep 1996, Ted Simmons wrote: > >>This formula sounds interesting. Is the proportion 1/3 amount of each >>ingredient or is there some other proportion? I've used denatured >>alcohol by itself to successfully dissolve old finishes. I wonder what >>boiled linseed oil and vinegar would do to improve using just denatured >>alcohol. I'm asking because I'm about to strip a piano for >>refinishing. >> >>Ted Simmons > >Ted, > >You got lucky. Alcohol works only on shellac finishes. Shellac as a >final finish was used on maybe 20% of pianos during the years 1895-1925, >more often on uprights than grands. What "works" depends entirely on >the original finish, and there is no point in discussing what solvent or >"restorer" to use without first determining the finish to be restored or >stripped. To test a finish, choose a spot in a no-critical location >(such as an unexposed area behind the fallboard) apply a dab of alcohol. >and rub it with your finger for a minute-- if shellac, it will become >"tacky" or downright sticky. Alcohol has no effect at all on a varnish >finish, and most old finishes are varnish. > >If a shellac finish is "virgin" (no wax or oil applied by owners), it >can be easilly restored by spraying it with alcohol (denatured ethyl >also called shellac thinner) just enough to thoroughly wet the surface >without dripping. Then, DO NOT TOUCH the surface at all, just let it >dry, and it will be clear and glossy. If necessary, repeat the >spraying, or spray more before it dries, keeping it wet longer with no >drips. Only after completely dry, you may consider rubbing it with >fine steel wool or powdered abrasive to give it a satin appearance. > >Sometimes, results are spectacular, bringing out the bright grain of the >wood, for only the cost of a gallon of alcohol and very little work. > >Bill Bailer > >\\\ William Bailer wbailer@cris.com >\\\ Rochester, NY, USA phone: 716-473-9556 >\\\ Interests: acoustics, JSBach, anthropology, piano technology
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