[pianotech] Thumpe returns... and the shellac on old plates.....

[Douglas Gregg]

When it comes to water based finish technology, it has changed at warp
speed in the last 5 years. Before that there were a lot of disasters.
Best case in point is the highly touted water based polyurethane for
wood floors by Varathane. It was terrible and peeled in a year.

However, due to federal regulations, most all cars are now painted
with water based paints. Marine paints are following  suit. I am as
much of a skeptic as anybody about water based paints but I think it
is time to reconsider. For example, Rustoleum (owned by Petit marine
paints) now has a fantastic water based multipurpose grey sandable
primer in gallons that I can't say enough good things about- and I
have been using automotive paints (llaquers. acrylic laquers and
enamels, and various two part polymers for years). I never thought I
would ever consider using a water based paint on metal but times have
changed. Try the new ones before you knock it.

Doug Gregg
Classic Piano Doc

Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 14:43:45 -0400
From: "Encore Pianos" <encorepianos at metrocast.net>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Thumpe returns... and the shellac on old
       plates.....
Message-ID: <001201cd2edc$d5815c40$808414c0$@metrocast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"

I can't speak to other people's experience, but years ago I had used a water
based clear lacquer over my gold and had adhesion problems.

Will Truitt

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Douglas Gregg
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2012 2:28 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Thumpe returns... and the shellac on old
plates.....

Several suggestions on plate reconditioning.

I agree with Euphonious that plates can be cleaned and come out looking
almost new with the right cleaner. I found that Dow Scrubbing Bubbles
Bathroom aerosol cleaner works wonders and does not require soaking the
plate, pins or soundboard. Also, it has not color dye added so no problem
there. I have used this on every hard surface of a piano and also the felt
with no problem. Not sure about leather and hammers.

 I think I wrote this up before for this forum and have submitted it to
TT&T. The bubbles work very fast and float all the brown stuff off the plate
in seconds. I am pretty sure it is not the shellac but tobacco tar and
nicotine because I can smell it as it comes off. I do use a dusting 4 inch
nylon paint brush and a vacuum before the scrubbing bubbles just to decrease
the volume of grunge to mop up.
this goes for the soundboard too. It is also hard to blow the wet wads of
lint and dirt. This goes for the soundboard too. For the soundboard, it is
better to tip the piano up and use gravity as well as the blower to blow the
bubbles down to a rag at the rim.  You can wipe it up or blow it to a corner
and mop it up. I use a Metro Vac on blower mode and blow the foam to a
convenient corner and have a rag there to absorb it. With the Metro vac
blower, everything comes out nearly dry just like those high powered hand
dryers in the restrooms.

For between the pins, the scrubbing bubbles work best with a 4 inch stiff
nylon cheap paint brush to loosen the dirt. Brush it to the front corner and
blow it into a rag. You will be amazed how well it works. It does not have
enough liquid to soak into the pin block. I am talking about a 30 second
exposure to the bubbles.

I use Sharpie brand black paint markers from Michael's craft store for
lettering. They are toluene solvent based and work well. You can use the
Sharpie paint last to avoid any bleeding. It is glossy.

Otherwise, if you are having trouble with the clear coat taking off your
marker or bleeding it, try a water based clear. I have used System 3 two
part clear marine coat on a couple pianos and it is a nice high gloss
finish. It can be brushed, but spraying is better. It can be thinned a bit
to brush or spray better. Jamestown Marine Supply carries it on line. They
ship very fast. You can still top coat it with a solvent based finish on top
of the water based if you want to but why bother.

Come to my French Polishing seminar in Seattle. That is a Shameless plug.

The Adhesives presentation was scrubbed but will be presented here soon. You
will be surprised at some of the test results comparing adhesives.

Doug Gregg
Classic Piano Doc
Southold, NY