A440A@aol.com wrote: > > Hmmmm. > > Del says that Steinway boards are finished with varnish over a shellac > sealer. > I have to question this to the extent that most of the older Steinways I > own have soundboard finishes on them that appear to be only shellac,(this > includes four that were built before 1920. > I test with a drop of alcohol, and I have never seen varnish dissolve > so fast. I cannot get varnish to melt with four or five seconds of exposure > to alcohol, and have always considered the soundboard finishes to be > completely shellac. > Are we positive about the varnish?? > > Regards, > Ed Foote > Precision Piano Works > Nashville, Tn Ed, Well, perhaps not. Those that I've tested appeared to be varnish over shellac. But, to be honest, I usually don't pay all that much attention to the old finish any more. Most of the pianos that come through our shop get new soundboards and on those that don't we simply get the old finish off as quickly and as neatly as possible and get on with the job. Either all shellac or varnish over shellac both seem to scrape or strip off about the same. Sorry if I've misled anyone. ddf
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