[pianotech] Steinway D Case Repair & Refinishing (Institutional)

[pmc033 at earthlink.net]

Hi, Paul:
	Of course, there's no substitute for complete refinishing, which is the
only way for it to look perfect.  As Al mentioned, you can use bondo, or
what I use is a glazing putty, which I get from a local body shop supply. 
It is a two part mix, like bondo, but sands a lot easier.  Bondo tends to
clog the sandpaper, but the glazing putty is softer and makes nice clean
dust.  Mohawk makes a black epoxy putty which you could use, more difficult
to sand, but doable.  I wouldn't put any masking tape around the area,
except where you're going to do the whole panel.  But you can just spray
the area and sand the area to remove as much overspray as possible, then
rub it out.  Because you'll have sprayed over the existing finish, you will
have to wait until it's fully dried before rubbing/sanding.  There will be
some evidence of the procedure, but a lot less bad than you have now.  
	Have fun.  
	Paul McCloud
	San Diego


> [Original Message]
> From: Paul Milesi, RPT <paul at pmpiano.com>
> To: PTG CAUT List <caut at ptg.org>; PTG Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 05/13/2010 5:01:21 AM
> Subject: [pianotech] Steinway D Case Repair & Refinishing (Institutional)
>
> List,
>
> As you may recall, I wrote a few months back about the possibility of our
> music department finally claiming possession of a 1970 Steinway D which
has
> been in the Chapel on our campus, and moving it to the Recital Hall within
> the Department of Music.  Approval for a move to our Recital Hall has just
> been granted!  The piano was a bequest to the School of Music in 1970 from
> the former head of piano studies.  The piano was new at the time it was
> received, and was placed in the Chapel because there was no recital hall
at
> that time.  This piano will, hopefully, become our main "recital piano,"
> replacing a 15-year-old Yamaha C5.  The D has new hammers, shanks and
> flanges one year ago (original reps).  Key bushings were replaced.  Needs
> full regulation and voicing, pulley keys fixed, and other things.
>
> For years this D has been stored in a narrow alcove with a metal railing
on
> one side, and the piano is scraped along it every time it is used.  (SEE
> ATTACHED PHTOTOS.)  Don't ask me why...I don't know!  This kind of
treatment
> is incomprehensible to me.  You can also see that the fallboard is not
only
> worn, but actually scalloped from finger nails.  Is there a way to "fill"
> those scallops, or would you recommend a new fallboard?
>
> Anyway, I'm trying desperately to save this instrument at absolute minimal
> cost (we barely came up with moving money).  We would like the piano to be
> presentable in terms of visual aesthetic for recitals in our 120-seat
> recital hall.  Estimate for refinishing the whole piano was $10-13K, and
we
> simply don't have the money.  And basically the case is OK, showing some
> wear, except for the gross damage you see in the photos.
>
> So here's my question: What are some reasonable options for an acceptable
> "fix" of this case?  Should I undertake myself to fill with putty, mask it
> off, and spray with a can of lacquer?  I say this somewhat jokingly, but
> also know if I did that very carefully, the damage would at least be less
> obvious--like a racing stripe, perhaps.  ;)  It will be hard to make it
> worse, I think, unless I spread paint or putty on good parts of the case
> finish.  I've seen spray paint repair done on some institutional pianos in
> hotels, schools and churches, but have always detested that "masking"
> approach.  Perhaps now I'll be forced to adopt it myself?  :(
>
> Seriously, what should I do?  We'd like to get this done this summer,
while
> I work on the action and lyre.  I'm pretty ignorant of what would need to
be
> done here, wood-wise, other than to somehow "fill" the gouge and then
veneer
> and refinish, blending with current finish?  I don't know...is "blending"
> the finish even possible?  Please help me out with your takes on this.
> Remember: I have minimal woodworking experience.  :)
>
> One other consideration: The piano must be moved up 3 flights of stairs --
> at considerable expense -- to the Recital Hall, as there is no elevator
that
> will accommodate it.  I just thought before moving it up there, perhaps it
> should go to somebody's shop to have the face fixed, saving another
> in-and-out move at a later date.  The one piano refinisher I know gave me
> the above quotes, and thought anything less would not be doable, that it's
> quite a mess.  I don't know anybody else to do it, although I have a
couple
> inquiries out.   How do I accomplish an acceptable intermediate solution
> over the summer without making a worse mess?  Can this work be done, now
or
> later, while the piano is on the Recital Hall stage?
>
> Sorry, I got rather long-winded.
>
> Paul Milesi
>