[pianotech] UV lamp for ivory bleaching

[Tom Servinsky]

Keep in mind that there is a shelf-life to the heavy duty 35% peroxide. It 
will become ineffective by the time you've used 1/4 th of the bucket. Also 
it's necessary to store it in complete darkness. Exposing the peroxide to 
any light start deceasing  it's strength. I buy mine in 1 gallon jugs and 
even with the utmost care in storing it, usually starts to become 
ineffective well before I've gone through 1/2 the jug. Luckily the peroxide 
isn't an expensive material to purchase.
I think the point of the thread was  avoiding putting the ivories out in the 
sun, adding additional heat to the mix. The heat and the peroxide mixed, can 
break down the glues holding the ivories on.The UV tubes mimic the sun's 
rays without the heat. However the peroxide is still needed to act as the 
bleaching agent.
Tom Servinsky
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <johnparham at piano88.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2010 12:41 AM
Subject: Re: [pianotech] UV lamp for ivory bleaching


Patrick,

If it were up to me, I would buy a 5-gallon bucket of 35% hydrogen
peroxide from a chemical supplier (I had to go to our local chemical
manufacturer.)  Hydrogen peroxide is very caustic, so wear gloves.

Brush it on the ivories and wait for it to evaporate.  Reapply as
necessary to get the desired shade of "bleached out white."

The nice thing about HP is that once it finishes its ionic exchange, it
stops working, so there is no danger of any residue in the ivories
interacting with something else later on; it becomes inert.

A 5-gallon bucket used full strength, by the way, is a lifetime supply.
It cost me around $40.00.

-John Parham, RPT
Hickory, NC

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [pianotech] UV lamp for ivory bleaching
> From: Patrick Mackey <patrickmackeyrpt at yahoo.com>
> Date: Wed, September 15, 2010 8:00 pm
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
>
>
> List,
> I tried to post this earlier but it hasn't shown up yet,
>
> Does anyone have advice about buying a UV lamp for bleaching ivories? 
> They are
> pretty expensive, I'd like to get some advice before shelling out the 
> bread.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Patrick Mackey
> New Orleans