Soundboard Cleaning

[Robert Goodale]

Pianotoone@aol.com wrote:
> 
> Wondering about tips for cleaning soundboards on grands.
> 
> Do you remove the lid?
> What cleaning solutions, if any, do you use?
> What tools? (rags, spring steel, dusters)
> 
> Never have seen a thread on this, but think it would be interesting.  I would
> like to suggest cleaning to some of my cleints with nice grands, but don't
> think I could do a job I would be proud of.
> 
> Dick Day


I use those nifty little tools that Bill Spurlock makes. They work
wonderfully, and take less than half the time than any other method or
tool I have tried. This is not to say they are effortless, as you still
need a good strong vacuum and a small brush. I prefer one of those cheap
1-1/2" bore's hair paint brushes, which seem to last forever as a
cleaning tool. I also like to have a couple of soft rags handy, and a
pair of forceps
for grabing paperclips and other hard-to-reach articles that the vacuum
won't pick up.

The spurlock cleaning tools, (which are actually just bent pieces of
welding rod soldered onto a strip of felt-covered brass), are economical
and last a long time if you are careful with them. I am on my first set
and haven't worn or broken them yet after cleaning more soundboards than
I can recall over the last couple years. My hat is off to Bill S. for
inventing this simple long-overdue little gizmo.

I forget how much they cost (I think around $20.00 for the S.M&L. set).
His number is:  (707) 452-8564  

Rob Goodale, RPT