Water stain

[Paul Chick (Earthlink)]

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment

  -----Original Message-----
  From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
Behalf Of daniel sicardi
  Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 6:27 PM
  To: Pianotech
  Subject: Re: Water stain


  Thanks a lot Paul. Are you sure that the top of this piano is made out of
veneer and particle board. The reason that I am asking is because the piece
is pretty heavy. I have a lot of experience dealing with particle board.
Usually I just throw it away and get a piece of lumber. That would mean that
the top of the console was a sandwich with veneer on both sides. That seems
to be pretty expensive! I guess solid Walnut was expensive in 1976 too!The
Bottom side has those Chicago World's Fair Decals that Kimball had used for
so long. I thought that heat (like from a heat gun or even an iron would
cause the area to contract. (Of course you have to be real careful not to
scorch the work area)
  I will check out Rockwell...... Thank You
  [Paul Chick (Earthlink)]
  Daniel
  My mistake---it's Rockler, not Rockwell.  Sorry!
  I prepped hundreds of Kimballs for a major dealer in the Midwest during
the seventies...can you imagine a semi truck loaded with two levels of
Kimball consoles, all the same model and finish?  Yes, the lid is heavy,
probably heavier than solid walnut.  Particle board back then was used
because it was surprisingly stable, could be worked with woodworking
machines, etc.  It is/was not the MDF we see today making the lids heavy.
We saw a number of lids swell when a plant was over watered and un-noticed
until it was too late.  No repair possible-order a new lid.  The damaged
lids gave us a chance to see whats under the veneer...they were sanded
smooth then veneered with the desired species--no cross banding, it wasn't
needed. The core stock was a chipboard type of sheet stock. Both sides were
veneered to keep moisture absorption relatively equal, BTW, both sides also
have the same amount of finish.   This helped keep the lids flat without
using wide, stiff lid moldings.  Solid stock is too expensive and too
unstable, so most panels in pianos are/were "built up" to control warping,
manufacturing rejects/defects and keep costs down....more information than
you ever needed to know.  Avoid using solid stock for a replacement lid,
unless you are skilled in designing and fabricating such a panel.

  Good luck.

  Paul C
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Paul Chick (Earthlink)
    To: Pianotech
    Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 10:06 AM
    Subject: RE: Water stain



      -----Original Message-----
      From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org]On
Behalf Of daniel sicardi
      Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 10:39 AM
      To: Pianotech
      Subject: Water stain


      There has got to be lots of people out there with more experience in
dealing with this "common" issue than I have.
      I have a Walnut Console piano.  The piano is a Kimball. It is about 30
years old and in perfect perfect perfect mechanical condition. It sounds
great with very little wear. It has a water stain that went completely
through the protective polyvarithaine or whatever was used to protect the
piano.
      There was so little left of the protective coat, that it only took a
few minutes to remove it completely from the top of the instrument.
      I used various gauges of sandpaper and removed the water stain from
the left side of the instrument almost completely. I have not been so lucky
with the right side. I have even used a belt sander which has reduced the
water stain a bit but not completely. I applied good furniture polish to the
entire piano. It sparkles.
      I still have a bump (not a depression) where the original owner's
ficus once stood.
      I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to how to deal with
this minor annoyance.
      I figured you pros might have had experience with heat guns or
something of a different nature to deal with this issue.
      Danny

      Daniel
      The raised area indicates the core has absorbed moisture and swelled,
never to shrink again because it is made out of particle board.  The stains
sound like mineral stains-very difficult to remove.  As a rule, we simply
strip and level the panel, then re-veneer it and stain and color to match.
Veneer is available with a pressure sensitive adhesive ( PSA ) on it.  All
you need to do is peel off the backing and stick it down, it will NOT come
off.  Rockwell is one company that comes to mind.  They have a website.

      Paul C

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/40/0c/fa/28/attachment.htm

---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--