[pianotech] finishing a plate

[David Love]

I don't strip the plate and I don't wash it with water.  There's just so
many areas that concern me with respect to rust that I don't like to do that
plus I like to get to it and leaving a little drop of water somewhere on the
plate when you are shooting those first coats of lacquer g&#&d**%^n&$*b%^t,
if you catch my drift.  I first use a wire brush to remove all the loose
dirt, paint, etc.   Then wash it down with lacquer thinner.  Sand it with
220 and then start filling chips, dents and gouges with bondo.  Then sand
down to 600.  Very careful in the web area and front cross struts and strut
tops to very smooth and clean without imperfections as that's what people
see the most-do the best I can anyway.    If there's lots of bondo patching
I shoot with a sealer/primer auto type (dark grey), though sometimes
not-it's easier to see imperfections with the flat primer.  Fill more, sand
more, shoot more primer.  Spray on several light coats of gold.  Lightly
sand back to 600 again.  Shoot a couple final coats.  Shoot clear lacquer
(two light coats-semi gloss).  Wire wheel the steel screws and plate bolts
(if I'm not replacing them with WNG suspension bolts which is more the norm
now) to bare metal and shoot with clear lacquer (I don't like painting
screws gold).  Polish brass hardware shoot with lacquer for brass.  Good to
go.  Takes a day or a bit more if there's a lot of patching.  

 

David Love

www.davidlovepianos.com

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Nick Gravagne
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 5:50 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] finishing a plate

 

When using lacquer gold and clear coats, what is the prep schedule some of
you are using RE washing, sanding, and lacquer based primers? 

 

Thanks  

 

Nick Gravagne, RPT

Piano Technicians Guild

Member Society Manufacturing Engineers

Voice Mail 928-476-4143

 

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