In a message dated 6/29/00 4:04:09 PM Central Daylight Time, staytuned@idirect.com writes: << I got stuck on a bench top today. Before I tell you the memory it brought backto me, I want to ask,: What causes the heat from one's butt to stick to some bench top finishes? Is there anything that can be sprayed over the finish? Should a bench be sitting with the hinge toward or away from the piano? >> On older pianos, the bench top is finished with varnish. The problem is that this varnish was brushed on the old finish, and the old finish had grease and dirt on it. So the new varnish never has a chance to soak in the wood, and harden. On the not so new piano benches, the customer loves to wax her piano bench with Pledge or something similar. The reason it gets sticky is the same reason the varnish doesn't dry. She is spraying a bench top that has grease and dirt on it, from little kids, and maybe adults, sitting on it with dirty pants, or bare legs (or buts). The only solution is to strip the bench top, and start all over. For an immediate solution, ask for a towel Bench lids hinges should be away from the piano. This way it the bench top is lifted to fast, the bench will never fall towards the piano, and hit the pedals and break them, or just hit the piano, and put in a large dent. Willem
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