This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment Hi Susan, Internet tag going on here, You are spot on, good auto rubbing compound is invaluable. There are = several 'grits' than can be usable. Old English and carnauba wax etc.are = elements not to be ignored. This started as "toothpaste" and we are, in = our own way due to our desire to help, convoluting the issue. I agree = with your advice and knowledge! Hubert Liverman Tuner/Tech Opelika, Al. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Susan Kline=20 To: Pianotech=20 Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 1:11 PM Subject: Re: toothpaste ??? At 12:53 PM 7/3/2005 -0500, you wrote: I heard somewhere that using a small amount of toothpaste on a rag = could be used to polish pianos? Hello, Brian=20 I show customers how to clean ivory with a small dab of toothpaste on = a=20 barely damp rag, followed up by a plain barely damp rag. Works very = well=20 for that waxy dingy buildup on some plastic keys, but equally good for = ivory. Some sharps bleed black dye onto the rag, though. I have had a customer who rubbed down a very dirty old rosewood = upright=20 with the finest grade of automotive rubbing compound, followed by = furniture=20 wax, and the results were stunning.=20 For very rough and dirty and crazed old finishes, I sometimes=20 wet some 0000 steel wool with Old English, wipe it on a small place at = a=20 time, then scrub with it (more gently if the finish isn't too bad),=20 followed by wiping it off and waxing. The color improves, the = roughness=20 smooths out, scratches usually disappear, and with care those paint = flecks=20 which these pianos so often seem to have, lift off before the varnish = does.=20 White rings darken, but usually leave bare wood if they weren't = superficial.=20 Really cheap finishes get big "mud" buildups where hands rest, like = the=20 cheeks and keyslip, and if you scrub those with steel wool and polish, = the whole finish disappears. The "mud" seems to be incorporated into = the=20 cheap finish.=20 I haven't used toothpaste on the varnish, but on a damp rag it might = work.=20 It's just a mild and nontoxic abrasive, complete with a pleasant mint = aroma. If used on a dry rag, I would think it would just make a smeary mess. = Too=20 damp and you might leave white marks. I prefer oily stuff like = furniture=20 polish or Old English on varnish, though polyester or lacquered = finishes on=20 grands I often wipe down with a barely damp rag. Pianos in = institutions are=20 often filthy dirty, and the people using them really like having them=20 cleaned up.=20 Susan=20 ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/29/d1/7a/04/attachment.htm ---------------------- multipart/alternative attachment--
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