[pianotech] price for fallboard decal

[William Monroe]

Noah,

As others have said, if it's a brass onlay "decal," you probably want to do
whatever you can to preserve it.  The brass decal is placed on the
fallboard prior to building up the finish, and the finish has to be built
up even with the brass (usually a coat or two above that) to get it smooth.
 If you pull it out, you'll be left with an imprint of the decal, into
which it is virtually impossible to fit and finish a new one.

There are options:
1.  Polish the decal periodically at tuning visits.
2.  Polish the decal, top coat with clear lacquer, rub out the finish as
desired (unless it's a high polish, then I would stick with 1).
3.  Strip the fallboard and replace the brass, building up the finish as
well (lots of work).
4.  Remove the brass decal, build up the remaining pockets and smooth the
fallboard, apply a dry transfer decal, top coat to protect and rub out
(again, if it is high polish, it's a different game).

Best of luck,
William R. Monroe



On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 4:57 PM, Noah Frere <noahfrere at gmail.com> wrote:

> I unfortunately didn't take as careful note of the letters as I should
> have. Thanks though,
>
>
> On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 10:42 AM, Paul McCloud <pmc033 at earthlink.net>wrote:
>
>> Hi, Noah:
>> Are the letters under the finish, or do the letters protrude and are
>> exposed?  Most imports have exposed letters, but there are some embedded
>> under the finish.  The finish was supposed to protect the letters from
>> tarnishing, but they will eventually do so, and there's nothing you can do
>> except to strip and refinish.  Except that they are usually polyester
>> finishes and can't be easily stripped.  If they are exposed, then just use
>> brass polish as David says.
>> Paul McCloud
>> San Diego
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Noah Frere" <noahfrere at gmail.com>
>> To: pianotech at ptg.org
>> Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2011 7:17:26 AM
>> Subject: Re: [pianotech] price for fallboard decal
>>
>> in retrospect it probably is tarnish. thanks,
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 3:10 AM, David Nereson < da88ve at gmail.com >
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 3:03 PM, Noah Frere < noahfrere at gmail.com > wrote:
>>
>>
>> Just throwing this out there before I call specific companies. Just
>> looking for a ballpark figure: how much to put in a new metal Schimmel
>> decal on a grand fallboard. The old one is rusty, and it must be done to a
>> high standard.
>>
>> Ballpark figure is fine,
>>
>> I've no idea, but if it's metal, it's not a decal. Decals are usually of
>> two types: the model airplane type that you soak in water, then slide off
>> onto the model, and the piano type which is "glued" on with the wet lacquer
>> or varnish, then the paper backing is soaked off, and more finish is
>> applied to the decal.
>> I've never heard of inlaid brass letters becoming "rusty." Are you sure
>> it's not just tarnish? I would try Brasso applied with a Q-tip, or maybe a
>> Scotch-brite pad or fine steel wool rubbed on the letters with the end of a
>> hammer shank.
>> But if they're actually rusty and need to be replaced, that's specialized
>> inlay work. I would call Schimmel.
>> --David Nereson, RPT
>>
>>
>
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