[pianotech] Cleaning cast iron frame

[Tom Servinsky]

Doug
You still haven't convinced of the long term affect of the scrubbing bubbles 
on the strings. There are plenty of cleansers out there to do the heavy duty 
cleaning. The trick is finding chemicals which will not affect the 
durability of the string, nor cause rusting of any sort.  Getting the 
bubbling solution between the tuning pins area is a very tricky procedure in 
that absolute cleanup is vital.
Tom Servinsky
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Douglas Gregg" <classicpianodoc at gmail.com>
To: "pianotech" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Friday, March 09, 2012 11:04 PM
Subject: [pianotech] Cleaning cast iron frame


> 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