Bob, I've done some "mini" refinishing of soundboards where the old finish was almost non-existent. I didn't sand or scrap under the strings. I cleaned the board with Murphy's oil soap (TSP would also work), then took off as much of the old finish as I could with alcohol (stay away from the decal with the alcohol). I used an Amity Water-Based finish called "Natural Aqua-Oil" #91616A at $9.99 per pint (may be hard to find). It has a small amount of stain in it. Put it on light as the stain/coloring will "puddle". Two coats is about as much as you would want to use. It turns out nice. I had to make up some special "tools" to get back under the strings - long thin wooden handles attached to the kind of thin pad you can get at a paint/hardware store for painting around window and door frames. I didn't do this on any fine customer grands. The work was done to dealer pianos of modest quality where re-stringing was out of the question. I post this not as a recommendation of this "technique" but to indicate that you can do about anything you need to with persistence, patience and a bit of orneriness. If anyone really wants to do this contact me and I will furnish more details on the "tools" I used. Rolland Miller, RPT <rmiller@en.com> ********************************* At 07:16 PM 4/28/98 -0400, you wrote: >In a message dated 98-04-28 18:15:19 EDT, you write: > ><< > I would appreciate input regarding cleaning and even possibly > refinnishing a grand soundboard with the strings allready installed? > (Without "lifting" the strings). Sure would be an interesting and money > saving solution to this problem in some cases. > >> > >I can't imagine how it could be done with strings still attached. >Sanding,scraping,cleaning,varnishing-how are you going to protect the strings >and get to the soundboard for all this work. I would be interested in hearing >what others have to say on this one. > >Bob Bergantino,RPT >South Euclid, Ohio >
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