Polyurethane Finishes on pianos

[John Delacour]

At 10:51 AM -0500 1/1/02, Allegrofinemusic@AOL.COM wrote:
>JD,
>Why is french polishing only possible on a black piano?
>Best
>Harry


That's not what I said.  I said it is only possible to use the 
existing finish as a foundation for further bodies if the piano is to 
be black.  A first class finish cannot be obtained by polishing on 
the basis of an existing clear finish unless no fading of the wood, 
no seeping of oil, no absorption of grime has taken place -- and 
these circumstances are rare except in parts of the poodwork that 
have been protected from all the causes of these griefs.  I do 
therefore occasionally get away with just cutting down and re-bodying 
the underside of grand or upright tops, but I regard that as a bonus.

JD