Hi Rob - I have refinished several pianos in water-based polyurethane with very good results. I have not used solvent-based polys for spraying, so I can't speak to that. I elected to use poly in a few cases where there were several kids in the family, all young, in anticipation of the inevitable barrage of warfare that would severely test the surface of the finish. To me, all finishes have their plusses and minuses, and the biggest drawback to the polys is that they are more difficult to rub out properly. Not impossible, to be sure, but CERTAINLY more grueling than the lacquers -either water-based or nitrocellulose. I normally prefer a finish that is less "bulletproof", and assume that the owners will treat the finish with a modicum amount of care. The benefits are a much more elegant rubbed finish with much less tedium. If you have ever rubbed out a finish you know what I mean! I would not equate polyurethane with polyester, though, and if I was going to do an ebony job in poly, I would purchase black poly, not add the colorant to the clear poly myself. Also, as with all finishes that are to be sprayed, you need decent spray equipment to do a decent job. Whether or not it would last 50 years would depend on the level of care and abuse it receives, as with all finishes. I would strongly recommend spraying a few test panels to see if you like the results, before embarking on an entire piano. Perhaps it is available in quarts for you to take a test drive? Might be a few hours very well spent.... Mark Potter bases-loaded@juno.com On Mon, 10 Dec 2001 13:10:44 -0800 Robert Goodale <rrg@unlv.edu> writes: > Just kind of wondering- > > Has anyone ever experimented with refinishing pianos with a > polyurethane > type finish? I was browsing the finishing department at my local > Home > Depot when a display sample caught my eye. You know, those little > samples of wood that have had brand "x" applied to show you what the > > product looks like. I have to admit some of them looked pretty darn > > good. One of them was a "crystal clear" variety which was very > smooth > and uniform and was quite heavy and durable. It looked virtually > identical to a coat of clear Polyester. It is also available in a > > satin version. I would guess that a coloring powder could be added > for > an ebony finish. The container also says that it can be applied by > a > sprayer. All of this would SUGGEST that you you could apply a > "simulated polyester finish", (for lack of a better term), for a > more > modern look on an old piano. The questions are: 1. Will it last 50 > > years? 2. Is it practical to refinish a piano this way or would > you > spend three months of your life sanding, rubbing, and polishing? > > Rob Goodale, RPT > Las Vegas, NV > >
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