Piano Finishes

[Richard Moody]

I have been refinishing with Tung Oil since 1975 and like it a lot.   It is
a little show in drying but once dry can be sanded and steel wooled.   I
usually put on paste wax as a final coat.  Applying two coats,  a satin
finish can be acheived with steel wool and then paste wax.  Beginners might
want to consider 3 coats.
There are various brands of Tung oil.  Jasco, (west coast)  Formbe's
MinWax, and Hoppes are common in retail outlets.  MinWax also has a product
called "Antique Oil"   this is what I have been using to get  higher gloss
finishes.   This  takes 4 to six coates and much fussing.   Two to three
coats sanded and steel wooled and then paste wax will give a very nice
lusterous satin finish.   Antique Oil will not gell as does Tung within 6
months in the container.   These are wipe on of course... ---ric
----- Original Message -----
From: Clark A. Sprague <clarks11628@juno.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, December 10, 2001 9:44 PM
Subject: Piano Finishes


I am currently re-whatevering a Baldwin R (1943) that is
| mahogany, with I think Laquer applied.  There are various gouges, etc,
| which will need to be filled.  | Any experience with Tung Oil on a piano?
|         I put it on a rocking horse that I made for my daughter years
| ago, and it has held up well.  So why not on a piano?
| Clark Sprague