Putting on decals

[Joel Rappaport]

While reviewing the posts concerning Warren Fisher's customer who
ordered a decal from someone else and expects Warren to put it on, it
occurred to me that some things were not so clear even considering the
excellent contributions about this procedure.

Is this a fallboard or soundboard decal.  Is it a decal that goes
someplace else on the case?  Surely not a soundboard decal to be
installed on a strung piano in someone's home.  Is the piano in Warren's
shop?

Assuming it is a fallboard decal, getting the new decal to stick to the
existing finish may be tricky if the piano has been dusted with one of
those sprays containing silicon.  If you sand the area, that still won't
remove any silicon that has permeated the finish and sanding will leave
"dust" that will still make it difficult for a decal to stick.

Does the customer anticipate having the whole fallboard refinished? 
Spot refinishing in the immediate area of the decal may not look right. 
If it is a full fallboard refinishing job, it will look nice but be
expensive.  A customer who may have tried to save some money by
providing you with this one decal may be incompatible with a job of
which you can be proud.

Maybe it would be best if you suggested she deal with the people from
whom she ordered the decal (or someone else they recommend) and not get
involved yourself.  Sounds like a disasterous situation waiting to
happen.  But then I am not sure of all the facts here....

Joel Rappaport
Round Rock, Texas