Candle wax on keys, how to remove?

[Jim Kinnear]

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Perhaps looking at the bright side, those keys that have been 'waxed' =
will be a lot more water resistant to future spills . . . .  ??
I wonder . . ??
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Jim Kinnear
www.kinnearpiano.com
Collingwood, ON, Canada


From: Dave Davis=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 11:44 PM
  Subject: [spam] Re: Candle wax on keys, how to remove?


  Hi Doug,

  About a year ago, I removed wax that had been vandalously dripped on a =
perfect set of M & H ivory keys. I'm talking all 88 keys had a thick =
coating of wax, even down in the cracks. I used the little brown hard =
rubber scrapers that my wife bought from Pampered Chef to remove the =
bulk of the wax. Actually, they come in handy quite often in the shop.
  Here is what they look like,
  http://tinyurl.com/64odu

  =
http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=3D=
241&categoryCode=3DFH

  A little odorless mineral spirits to slightly dampen a cloth cleaned =
the remaining residue off the keytops and I used razor blades to scrape =
the keysides. I checked on them last week, and they still look great.=20

  There were a few dribbles of wax that leaked all the way to the front =
rail punchings. I was able to chip the wax off and turn the punching =
over and reuse them.

  Have fun,
  Dave Davis, RPT

  Hubert wrote:
  Hi Mark-

  I removed the keys and used the side of the knives as keytop scrapers. =
I do not remeber the degreaser that I used but it was commercial kitchen =
type. The three candles used were red Christmas decorations. I only =
'froze' the white tops and black sharps. I used the cutting edges on the =
unfinished wood sides. I do not want to do it again. We are in agreement =
here. I was afraid of naptha in the sharps.

  Cheers:

  Hubert Liverman
  Tuner/tech
  Opelika,AL.
    ----- Original Message -----=20
    From: Mark Potter=20
    To: Pianotech=20
    Sent: Friday, February 11, 2005 12:49 PM
    Subject: Re: Candle wax on keys, how to remove?


    Hi Doug -

    I actually DID run into a very similar situation once, and found it =
easier than it looked at first glance.  Using a VERY dull blade, or a =
piece of hardwood tapered to a dull chisel-point, you can scrape the =
majority of it off fairly easily.  Then use mineral spirits to remove =
any residue.  The mineral spirits will make short work of any wax =
remaining after you scrape, and will not harm the keytops as far as I =
know.  You will want to remove they keys, I would guess, as it would =
seem very likely that there is a fair amount of wax between and under =
the keys.  There certainly was in my case.... =20

    You might wanna use the odorless variety of mineral spirits, as the =
smell can build rather nastily.  In any case, a little ventilation would =
be advised, as would the use of drop cloths below the keybed!

    Mark Potter

    Doug Renz Piano Tuning / Repair <pianotuner@frontiernet.net> wrote:
      Does anyone know how to remove candle wax from keys? I went to =
tune a
      piano yesterday and the customer said, "yea, I accidentally =
spilled
      candle wax on the the keys, I've been trying to get some of it =
off."

      It is a mess... about 4 octaves of the keyboard covered with wax. =
made
      for an interesting tuning! Has anyone ever removed candle wax and =
know
      how to remove it from keytops? Thanks in advanced!

      Doug Renz
      Associate PTG
      Rochester, NY
      pianotuner@frontiernet.net



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