In a message dated 7/23/2007 7:06:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time, scottwaynejackson at hotmail.com writes: Thanks very much Bob. I am familiar with violin varnish which my brother uses, but i had not considered that pianos used something comparable. I will go explore the links that you have provided, and learn something else new. May i ask where you obtained suitable varnish when you did use it? Scott, Varnish formulas vary in the type of resin, the proportion of oil, and the amount of driers. The most common resins are alkyd, and polyurethane-modified alkyd. The polyurethanes are more abrasion resistant, but in our experience tend to make a white shatter if damaged, so are harder to touch up. They tend to yellow more, and are more touchy to recoat. The alkyd is a little softer, but easier to rub out and re-rub. McCloskey makes a good alkyd resin varnish called Heirloom. [This just in - I understand the parent company, Valspar, is changing the name to Cabot Varnish.] It is also medium oil, which puts it between the short oil varnishes, which are harder but less flexible; and the long-oil varnishes (like spar varnish), which are unnecessarily flexible, and softer. We have used it on soundboards (and a few pianos) for over thirty years, and don't have any complaints. Hope that helps. Bob Davis ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20070726/df37d646/attachment.html
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