Mr. Clean Blues

[Ted Simmons]

That's extremely interesting Bill.  You're right about the age of the piano
I refinished.  Thanks for the info.  It will come in very handy.

Ted Simmons

>On Thu, 5 Sep 1996, Ted Simmons wrote:
>
>>This formula sounds interesting.  Is the proportion 1/3 amount of each
>>ingredient or is there some other proportion?  I've used denatured
>>alcohol by itself to successfully dissolve old finishes.  I wonder what
>>boiled linseed oil and vinegar would do to improve using just denatured
>>alcohol.  I'm asking because I'm about to strip a piano for
>>refinishing.
>>
>>Ted Simmons
>
>Ted,
>
>You got lucky.  Alcohol works only on shellac finishes.  Shellac as a
>final finish was used on maybe 20% of pianos during the years 1895-1925,
>more often on uprights than grands.  What "works" depends entirely on
>the original finish, and there is no point in discussing what solvent or
>"restorer" to use without first determining the finish to be restored or
>stripped.  To test a finish, choose a spot in a no-critical location
>(such as an unexposed area behind the fallboard) apply a dab of alcohol.
>and rub it with your finger for a minute-- if shellac, it will become
>"tacky" or downright sticky.  Alcohol has no effect at all on a varnish
>finish, and most old finishes are varnish.
>
>If a shellac finish is "virgin" (no wax or oil applied by owners), it
>can be easilly restored by spraying it with alcohol (denatured ethyl
>also called shellac thinner) just enough to thoroughly wet the surface
>without dripping.  Then, DO NOT TOUCH the surface at all, just let it
>dry, and it will be clear and glossy.  If necessary, repeat the
>spraying, or spray more before it dries, keeping it wet longer with no
>drips.  Only after completely dry, you may consider rubbing it with
>fine steel wool or powdered abrasive to give it a satin appearance.
>
>Sometimes, results are spectacular, bringing out the bright grain of the
>wood, for only the cost of a gallon of alcohol and very little work.
>
>Bill Bailer
>
>\\\  William Bailer                              wbailer@cris.com
>\\\  Rochester, NY, USA                       phone: 716-473-9556
>\\\  Interests: acoustics, JSBach, anthropology, piano technology