Satin Finish Cleaning/Rubbing

[Farrell]

Thanks Tommy. Nope, no confusion. This is what I was looking for: try this,
if it doesn't work, try that, etc. Your idea of wax buildup sure seems
logical. I'll rip into it and let you know. Thanks again.

Terry Farrell

----- Original Message -----
From: <Bigeartb@AOL.COM>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2002 10:14 PM
Subject: Re: Satin Finish Cleaning/Rubbing


> Terry:
> Water will not hurt lacquer. First I'd try to clean with maybe dishwashing
> detergent and water...dampen cloth and rub.....then clean water and dry.
If
> that doesn't clean it then try cleaning with mineral spirits or Naptha.
Just
> wipe with cloth soaked in either and then wipe with dry cloth. Neither
will
> damage lacquer. Now to the chemicals I have found will damage lacquer if
not
> used properly. If you believe you are dealing with wax buildup and neither
> mineral spirits nor naptha will cut the wax, I have used windex with
ammonia
> BUT I spray and wipe dry immediately, clean with water and then dry again.
> You need to try a very small spot first. I would save this last technique
> when all else fails but remember you can rub hard enough on satin and end
up
> with a shine. Lacquer thinner and alcohol will damage the finish. Don't
use
> these two unless you are planning on wet sanding and respraying. I hope
this
> will help. It is hard to diagnose without seeing. 0000 steel wool soaked
in
> steel wool wax rubbed the complete lenght of the lid in light strokes will
> reduce the gloss and give it a rubbed look with very light stratches in
the
> finish. On the other hand if you rub the entire length of lid with 400
grit
> sandpaper soaked in water or mineral spirits then this technique will also
> give a rubbed look. Each is different and usually done on gloss or
semi-gloss
> lacquers. I would only attempt to clean this finish before I started the
> rubbing. I hope this helps but maybe I told you more than you really
wanted
> to know therefore totally mixing you up. Sorry. If this finish has never
been
> rubbed you will never get it to look the same by any rubbing. It will have
to
> be just cleaned or sprayed to look exactly as it did when first
refinished.
>
> Tommy Black
> Decatur, Ala.