[CAUT] Smoke Damage

[Paul Williams RPT]

I had a similar experience.  Three years ago the Baptist church which has a 
Kawai 650  I tune and regulate regularly, had an Easter service where a 
group of candles caught fire on the piano.  Quickly, the pastor sprayed the 
fire extinguisher all around.  This, of course got all over the piano.  No 
damage was done to the finish.  The residue, however was spread over the 
strings, soundboard and etc.   The insurance company coverered cleaning, 
re-stringing and new hammers-shanks, and flanges, and much re-pinning.  I 
was able to clean the rest of the  piano and the congregation yells 
Hallelujah!!(Cleaning will take a day...)  Since we all pay so much for 
insurance it is OK to get some back.  Do these things to both pianos and 
have fun with the rebuilding experience. Don't let the other cleaners come 
close to the interior workings of the piano.  At the very least.,.get in 
there yourself and clean everything you can.  The insurance should cover it. 
Be careful, later of corrosion, if you don't restring.....I hope this helps.

Sincerely,
Paul T. Williams RPT
pno2nr@whidbey.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Snyder" <shsnyder@sover.net>
To: "CAUT" <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 4:29 AM
Subject: [CAUT] Smoke Damage


> Dear Friends,
>
> Our church had a fire  and I need your advice on taking care of 2 pianos
> that have smoke damage.
>
> Here are the details:
>
> Yamaha C3 grand which was covered with a heavy duty Madrid padded,quilted
> vinyl cover. Wurlitzer studio which was uncovered. Neither piano appears 
> to
> have any heat or water damage, but there was a significant amount of 
> smoke.
> I briefly inspected the interior of the Yamaha and other than the smoke 
> odor
> I did not see any signs of damage. Insurance will cover any costs to clean
> and restore both pianos as needed. A professional company has been hired 
> to
> clean the church.
> My questions are:
>
> 1. Should the professional company be allowed to clean the piano cabinets
> and remove the smoke odor from the instruments?
>
> 2.If not,how should I go about cleaning the pianos?
>
> 3. Should the pianos be moved and cleaned off site while the cleaning and
> restoration of the church is being done?
>
> Any advice is most welcome.  Thanks!
>
> Regards,
> Steve Snyder, RPT
>
>