Cleaning keys again

[Stéphane Collin]

Hi Gordon.

Here we systematically lacquer the leads in the keys, to avoid that they expand in response to climate issues.  Older pianos often feature key leads that are so expanded that they rub one against each other.  Lacquering them seems to be a good practice.

Stephane Collin.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "gordon stelter" <lclgcnp@yahoo.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 10:36 PM
Subject: Re: Cleaning keys again


| Why not lacquer keys? If it holds in the stink 
| ( although I burn pianos that are heavily mouse
| infested as they are signifigant health threats )and
| makes the keys easy to clean, why not lacquer them?
| Please give me a scientific response---- not just
| deriding the idea as "too radical"-- as though pianos
| are somehow worshippable objects which need to be left
| exactly as manufactured!!! Besides, lacquering the
| keys cuts down on moisture infusion which, I would
| think, will keep them in better regulation, and
| prevent sticking key bushings!!! It also seals in the
| lead weights, thus preventing small children from
| breathing oxidized lead dust ( VERY DANGEROUS!!!)  and
| slows future oxidation.
|     Pianos are tools to create music, not Gods!  My
| customers' health supercedes any piano's imaginary
| Inalienable Rights. Mouse crap can make you cough up
| blood ( I've been there ) and hope to die! In my 30
| years in this business, nothing strikes me as more
| inethical,unscrupulous and widespread, than the
| practice of refinishing and otherwise cosmetically
| spritzing up a filthy piano which can pose a serious
| health threat to the unwitting customer once it is in
| their home!!!!
|      "Do unto others.........."
|      I have developed a whole system for sanitizing
| pianos and REALLY returning them to "like new" , which
| I will share when I have time. 
|     Oh, and yes, my pianos do sound GREAT when done,
| and play well, which is also important.
|      Sincerely,
|      Gordon Stelter
|      P.S. I have also heard that virii in mouse crap
| can cause birth defects. Do we want that on our
| record?
|      <davidlovepianos@earthlink.net> wrote:
| > Lacquering the sides of the keys with clear lacquer
| > seems a pretty radical
| > solution that I would not try or recommend.  Putting
| > white or black lacquer
| > on the sides key sticks would push me over the edge
| > if it were my piano.
| > 
| > David Love
| > 
| > 
| > ----- Original Message -----
| > From: "gordon stelter" <lclgcnp@yahoo.com>
| > To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
| > Sent: August 13, 2002 11:20 AM
| > Subject: Re: Cleaning keys again
| > 
| > 
| > I use a green "Scotch-Brite" pad and denatured
| > alcohol, wearing gloves and a carbon filter mask.
| > Then, if the keys still stink, I put a cheap set of
| > bushing cauls in the bushing slots, mask off the
| > ivories ( 3/4" easy to remove blue tape works great)
| > and lacquer them, with either clear or white and
| > black
| > lacquer. If the piano will be in an institutional
| > setting where poorly raised people will not wash
| > their
| > hands before playing ( should be illegal!) I will
| > actually spray the keystick with white epoxy gloss,
| > which leaves a nice, smooth finish on the sides, to
| > easily wipe clean later ( and fully reveal their
| > sins!)
| >      Thump
| > 
| > 
| 
| 
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