[pianotech] Cleaning cast iron frame

[Douglas Gregg]

Rob
Dow Scrubbing bubbles is the best thing I have found for cleaning
around the tuning pins. I first brush and vacuum the loose dirt up.
I then have my metro vac in blower mode. I spray around one section of
pins at a time. Since it foams, there is not much liquid. I use an
automotive parts cleaning brush that is quite stiff nylon to help stir
up any stuff that is really stuck and then blow the foam to a corner
toward the front and mop it up with a rag.

 I do the same with the soundboard. First I use a microfiber pad on a
long wand to get off the heavy dust and lint. Since this is usually a
piano in my shop, I then have the piano tipped up on a skid for the
next step. I put a couple towels on the bottom along the rim. I spray
the whole soundboard starting at the top. Use the parts cleaning brush
as needed for really heavy dirt. The parts brush can be pressed
through the strings and will reach the soundboard. It slides along the
strings. Do a couple unisons at a time. The foam will run down to the
bottom and be soaked up by the towels. Work quickly so the whole
soundboard gets foamed and stays wet so there are no dirty rivers of
dirt that might leave a pattern of streaks. When it is clean, I blow
it off with the Metro vac. It will look like a new soundboard. It does
not bother the soundboard decal either. Just don't scrub the decal
area too hard.

I have used the Scrubbing Bubbles on the finish of the case too. If it
had been a smokers piano, you will be amazed at the amount of tar and
nicotine  that floats off instantly.  I towel off the foam. It works
so fast that the finish is not wet for long at all.

Doug Gregg
Classic Piano Doc
Southold, NY

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2012 10:23:18 -0700
From: Rob McCall <rob at mccallpiano.com>
To: "pianotech at ptg.org" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Cleaning cast iron frame
Message-ID: <020A68EE-D520-40A8-B62E-A988ED037A32 at mccallpiano.com>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=us-ascii

Doug,

So how do you administer the chemicals? Have you used it in and around
tuning pins? If so, how do you mop up the spray and dirt removal most
effectively?

I've had some dirty pianos I've cleaned but I'm hesitant to use such a
strong chemical around sensitive components.

Regards, Rob McCall