refinishing frustrations

Robert Edwardsen eedward2@rochester.rr.com
Wed, 27 Apr 2005 14:39:56 -0400


Greg,

Bleaching is done with a hydrogen peroxide solution.  Behlem & Bros makes a
Bleach Unit (B 700-1006) which you can order from many different places,
just do a google search.

Rob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 1:51 PM
Subject: Re: refinishing frustrations


> Rob,
>          Not to be obtuse but, how do you bleach the case?
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> At 01:02 PM 4/27/2005, you wrote:
> >Hi Greg,
> >
> >I scrape carefully with even pressure only removing the finish and not
> >digging into the wood at all.  If the stain is uneven (as is the case
with a
> >sun damaged piano in my shop now) I bleach the case.
> >
> >Rob
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
> >To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 8:38 AM
> >Subject: Re: refinishing frustrations
> >
> >
> > > Rob,
> > >          I'm worried about the same issue with scraping that I am with
> > > sanding. How do you prevent going through in spots and what are you
doing
> > > to even out the color? Are you using the color exactly as it is under
the
> > > old finish or darker? This is exactly what I am struggling with. Seems
the
> > > old color underneath the clear coat is quite dark indeed. Almost
black!
> > >
> > > best,
> > > Greg
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > At 06:08 AM 4/27/2005, you wrote:
> > > >Hi Greg,
> > > >
> > > >Another option is to scrape as much old finish off as possible to
avoid
> > > >working with stripper, nasty stuff, and only bleach when there is
color
> > > >variation that needs to be evened out.
> > > >
> > > >Rob E.
> > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > >From: <mailto:bases-loaded76@sbcglobal.net>Mark Potter
> > > >To: <mailto:pianotech@ptg.org>Pianotech
> > > >Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 5:47 AM
> > > >Subject: Re: refinishing frustrations
> > > >
> > > >Hi Greg -
> > > >
> > > >When you say the wood seems to end up darker than you would like when
you
> > > >try to even out the color are you referring to evening out the color
from
> > > >one piece to the next (i.e. - making the legs the same color as the
> > > >fallboard), or evening out some color 'blotchiness' you may encounter
on
> > > >an individual piece?  If you are referring to blotchiness, I would
say
> >you
> > > >are inflicting this on yourself in the stripping process by being
more
> > > >aggressive in some areas than in others in either scrubbing or
sanding.
> > > >In my experience, if you just let the stripper remove the finish to
the
> > > >point where a putty knife will easily scrape it off, that avoids
pitfall
> >#
> > > >1 - scrubbing real hard in stubborn places to remove finish still
> > > >adhering. Then if you lightly scrub/rinse WITH THE SAME EVEN PRESSURE
> > > >THRUOUT using either a water/alcohol, lacquer thinner, or TSP rinse
(or
> > > >combination of all 3)with #1 steel wool or maroon scotchbrite pad,
you
> > > >should have all pieces stripped clean, free of any blotchiness.  I am
not
> > > >a big fan of inflicting further aggression on the wood after
achieving
> > > >this state other than a light sanding with 150 - 220.  My personal
> >opinion
> > > >is that bleaching robs the wood - especially mahogany - of some depth
> >that
> > > >is not retrievable. Just my opinion, FWIW.  Nor have I found it
necessary
> > > >or desirable to go after the old filler with scrub brushes, but to
each
> > > >his own.
> > > >
> > > >As far as keeping the color as light as possible, I will generally
pick
> > > >the darkest piece of the lot, and only dye as necessary to get the
rest
> >of
> > > >the pieces to that shade. I would consider this then to be the
lightest
> > > >this wood wants to be.  I prefer to take what the wood is giving me
and
> > > >work with it, rather than to impose a completely different color
regimen
> > > >that is much lighter in tone and requires bleaching to get there.
Seems
> > > >to me this is like "askin' for a fight".... ;-)
> > > >
> > > >I will say that of the three common liquids I use for cleaning after
> > > >stripping - alcohol, lacquer thinner, TSP - the TSP removes the most
> > > >color.  FWIW.
> > > >
> > > >Mark Potter
> > > >
> > > >Greg Newell <gnewell@ameritech.net> wrote:
> > > >list,
> > > >I wonder if you all (as many opinions as I can get) would
> > > >enlighten me on what you do in the stripping process. I'm
specifically
> > > >interested in everything that comes before repairs and coloring etc.
> > > >Perhaps more to the point is whether or not you are seeking to make
the
> > > >wood as bare as possible i.e. devoid of any color, or are you simply
> > > >removing topcoat, then repairing, even out color and re-topcoat? It
seems
> > > >that my attempts seem to bring the finished product darker than I
would
> > > >like by attempting to make everything the same color. I have only
removed
> > > >finish in the past but am contemplating bleaching. Is this necessary
in
> > > >order to get the lighter colors I'm after? Would you be kind enough
to
> > > >describe exactly the steps and materials and tools you use in the
> >stripping
> > > >process? Thanks in advance.
> > > >
> > > >Greg Newell
> > > >Greg's ! piano Forté
> > > >mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >_______________________________________________
> > > >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> > >
> > > Greg Newell
> > > Greg's piano Forté
> > > mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>
> Greg Newell
> Greg's piano Forté
> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives


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