Soundboard Refinishing Query

[robert sadowski]

Bill,
     This might get a heretical rise out of some of the list members, but
I've been using a 50% Hydrogen Peroxide solution mixed half & half with
water and sodium hydroxide crystals to bleach out those blotches for a while
now with no apparent ill effects.  The boards come out beautiful, like a new
board.  This is not the beauty supply variety but stuff available from
chemical supply houses.  But be careful, this stuff is potent!  Gloves are a
necessity or you'll end up with white hands in seconds.  One application
does the trick.  Finish with whatever.

Bob Sadowski
Erie, PA

-----Original Message-----
From: BSimon1234@aol.com <BSimon1234@aol.com>
To: pianotech@ptg.org <pianotech@ptg.org>
Date: Saturday, November 29, 1997 9:36 PM
Subject: Soundboard Refinishing Query


>I am rebuilding a piano which has a particularly blotchy soundboard,
>discolored in some areas and like new  where the decal was applied.  I have
>shimmed it, scraped it, sanded at it, and still - when tested to see what
it
>will look like refinished in clear lacquer, just wettting it with thinner,
> it will look very uneven and awful.
>
>I don't want to paint it and fake grain it, but am looking for suggestions
>for finishing it. I was thinking of putting a little opaque material into
the
>lacquer to make it semi-opaque and hide the worst of the discolorations
>without covering the grain completely. I experimented with some light
stains
>without much luck.
>
>This problem cannot be new. Any suggestions that I might use?
>
>Thanks
>Bill Simon
>Phoenix
>