[pianotech] bead blasting wood...gently

[Encore Pianos]

I have been thinking of sandblasting my next piano plate in the areas of the
lettering, doing so carefully so as to take it down to bare metal in that
area, before painting again.  I would want to do so in such a way as to
remove all the paint while minimally disturbing the iron.  The more coats of
paint you put on a plate around the lettering, the more it loses shape and
definition.  The idea is refinish the plate whilst retaining as much
definition as possible.  Do you or anyone have suggestions as to the best
material?

Will Truitt

-----Original Message-----
From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Douglas Gregg
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 4:58 PM
To: pianotech
Subject: [pianotech] bead blasting wood...gently

I have seen some great u-tube videos on cleaning finish off of ornate carved
mantels, etc. with no damage to the wood. There are at least three grades of
baking soda granules for auto body work for removing paint from fiberglass
bodies and metal too. I have used household baking soda with success in
cleaning old and dirty wood action parts as an experiment. It worked well.
It is not aggressive at all.
Household baking soda will not take off paint or finish very well. You need
bigger granules for that. It will clean dirty parts. I use a simple cheap
canister sand blaster that looks like a spray gun with a pipe nozzle. . It
worked fine for small stuff.

Doug Gregg
Classic Piano Doc


Message: 1
Date: Thu, 24 May 2012 22:32:45 -0400
From: "jim at grandpianosolutions.com" <jim at grandpianosolutions.com>
To: pianotech <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: [pianotech]  bead blasting wood...gently
Message-ID: <4FBEEF4D.6010809 at grandpianosolutions.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

<I've also heard of blasting with baking soda. Tried it? Any info on it?
Thumpe

I've got baking soda in the shop.  I was going to use it, but decided to
take a shot with the fine bead, since I already had that in the sump.

I will say that I had to also be very gentle and careful with the soda on
wood, as it is surprisingly aggressive.


Jim Ialeggio

--
Jim Ialeggio
jim at grandpianosolutions.com
(978) 425-9026
Shirley, MA