[pianotech] smoke damaged piano

[johnparham at piano88.com]

Doug,

I am dealing with an action affected by smoke from a fire as well.  

When you use Scrubbing Bubbles, did you use them on the wippens as well?
 

Since the slightest bit of smoke seems to discolor the parts a bit, tt
would be nice to bring back the new, lighter color of the natural wood. 
Did you spray it on the action parts or use a small brush on more
delicate parts?

-John Parham

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [pianotech] smoke damaged piano
> From: Douglas Gregg <classicpianodoc at gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, November 10, 2010 11:44 am
> To: pianotech at ptg.org
> 
> 
> I have a S&S in my shop that was half burned up . The top is all
> charred and must be replaced. It was closed at the time of the fire
> and the insides are only smoke damaged. The odor was permanently
> removed using Ultra Odors Gone. It is used in museums after fires
> without closing down the museum to visitors. Check it out a
> www.ultraodorsgone.com web site.  It works amazingly well at
> neutralizing odors. Mildew too.  It is a gel in a cottage cheese-like
> container. Put the piano in an enclosed space or loosely tent it in
> plastic with one of these tubs inside and the odor will be gone in a
> few days to a week and won't come back. I have some of these burned
> pieces in my basement now and have never smelled the smoke odor.
> 
> To clean off the smoke tar from the plate, action and case, I used
> Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner. The brown tarry residue of smoke
> just floats up with the bubbles and can be wiped off with a paper
> towel.
> 
> The fire did not do much damage to to piano other than obviously
> burned parts. It was the water damage from the firemen extinguishing
> the flames  that can be the bigest problem.  Fortunately, in my case.
> the firemen recognized the value of the S&S and did their best not to
> soak it.
> 
> Douglas Gregg
> Classic Piano Doc
> Southold, NY