[pianotech] From the Dark Side

[Joe Goss]

Is there any idiot proof insurance?
Joe Goss BSMusEd MMusEd RPT
imatunr at srvinet.com
www.mothergoosetools.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joseph Garrett" <joegarrett at earthlink.net>
To: "pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2012 11:40 AM
Subject: [pianotech] From the Dark Side


> Ladies and Gentlemen,
> I bring you the most incredible story from the Dark Side, (otherwise known
> as the Higher Logic, [yeah right], bullcrap list):
>
> "Subject: Re; Polyester and Aliphatic Urethane?
> Message: This message has been cross posted to the following Discussions:
> Pianotech and Casework and Finishing .
> -------------------------------------------
> Dear Folks,
>
> It was an interesting day. Hope some of you re-finishing gurus are looking
> for a little action in here.
>
> Short story; can aliphatic urethane (Devcote 379, I believe) be applied
> over a polyester finish?
> And stay there?
>
> Long story; Picture a Yamaha C7 at a local performing arts center with a
> small ding on the fallboard, and two matching dings on the lid. A piece of
> equipment (lighting) was dropped and hit hard enough to punch through the
> finish. None of these marks larger than a quarter. Small.
>
> I suggested a reputable refinisher, skilled in poly-repair and also a 
> quote
> from Yamaha on simply replacing the two pieces. This would be the
> fallboard, and the front 'apron' of the lid; the rectangular piece we fold
> over when we open the piano. No brainer, right? The refinisher is actually
> working in a space at the Yamaha dealer for goodness sake! You'd think
> there was no issue or thought required. Done deal.
>
> Ah....no. One of the part-time stagehands (I kid you not), offers that he
> can fix that right up. Take a day and get 'er done. Cheap, too. After all,
> he said; "It's lacquer. My Devcote 379 with a dash of converter will bond
> right to that." And proceeded to 'fix' the broken 'lacquer' finish with
> this product. But...he oversprayed on the lid, and got some on the body of
> the instrument. Gee...guess we need to get that too! Oh, and the rest of
> the lid to keep things shiny bright and beautiful. Perfect, just perfect. 
> A
> $45,000.00 piano in the hands of a man who cannot identify lacquer from
> polyester.
>
> So, the simple repair turned into a COMPLETE coat of this product on the
> entire piano. When I walked in this afternoon he was busy putting this
> stuff onto the cheekblocks (locking them into place, of course) and the
> keyslip (locking that into place), and yes....even the pedal lyre and the
> dang stage-dolly under the piano!
>
> Swallowing my instant fear and cry of anguish; I suggested that we could
> pull the parts off the piano, to give him better control and access, and
> removed the cheek blocks, action, music desk, fallboard, and pedal lyre
> from the piano. Then pulled the rods from the pedal lyre. And cautiously
> suggested that using acetone and other liquids (whatever in that finishing
> brew) over the piano strings, and then rubbing it out with dust and finish
> blowing around, might best be done with the strings and soundboard masked
> from the dust and drips. 'Are you a re-finisher?' he asks. 'Nope' says I.
> 'I leave that to the professionals!'. Nodding, and satisfied, he followed
> my suggestions. He promised to mask the legs seperately, and spray them
> discreetly from the body, he promises that they won't be welded with the
> finish to the piano. No...they are not removed. Nor is the lid, despite my
> offer to help get that simple precaution done.
>
> So....what say the professionals?
>
> Can you safely sand a 1996 Yamaha C7 high-density high-gloss polyester
> finish, wash it with acetone, and put a shiny coat of 'aliphatic resin' on
> that for a permanent and long-lasting shiny piano? I thought he meant
> carpenter's wood glue, for one scary second...but caught a glimpse of the
> actual can. I believe it was Devcote 379 aliphatic urethane, a can of
> Devcote 379 'converter', and a gallon of matching 'Thinner' whose product
> list included Benzene, Tuolene, and a host of similiar substances.
>
> Success ratio?
> Drying time of this product, if sprayed today?
> Average humidity on the Oregon Coast currently approaches 80-90%. And the
> piano is less than 2 miles from the ocean. Temperature? Cool. Not 
> exceeding
> 70, nor dropping below 50 at night. Piano on loading dock, guys. Piece of
> tin between it and outdoors, once they shut the damn two-story rolling
> monster.
>
> Why ask about drying? Curious about that are you? Why? Because, for good
> measure; the piano is being borrowed by the Newport Symphony on Friday
> morning. Moved 50 miles from its present location on the loading dock
> (...just inside the wide-open 40-ft door, for ventilation don't you know).
> For a two piano performance....with a Mason-Hamlin BB on Saturday
> afternoon. Can I get an 'Amen?'
>
> Respectfully,
> I am,
> Awaiting your input,
> -------------------------------------------
> Jeffrey T. Hickey, RPT"
>
> I'm at a loss for words on this one.
> Joe
>
> Joe Garrett, R.P.T.
> Captain of the Tool Police
> Squares R I
>
>