Paul- Start by going to Auto Zone and spend an hour studying the body repair (auto body, that is) section. Maybe someone in the store is the resident expert. The first step will be filling and leveling the big gouge. Plan on spraying a lot of paint, and with satin ebony, just spray it on the piano and see how it looks. If it's not so good, let it dry, sand a little and spray the next on top. Satin ebony is a very forgiving finish. Do your best, and if you don't like it, sand it smooth and try again. It won't hurt to build up extra layers of black paint! This is a great learning project. Protect the piano well, and go to it. I think your best blend would be to work around the tail, thinning out as you go, but if you had a really good match, you could stop sooner. Ed ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Milesi, RPT" <paul at pmpiano.com> To: "Ed Sutton , caut at ptg.org" <ed440 at mindspring.com> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 9:31 AM Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway D Case Repair & Refinishing (Institutional) > Thanks for the encouraging words, Ed! This will be another one of those > huge learning experiences for me. But I am excited about being able to > provide this kind of instrument to our faculty and staff -- something they > haven't had in decades. I am already viewed in amazement because I have > succeeded in the political arena in terms of getting the chapel to > relinquish the piano. That required photo and verbal documentation of the > piano's condition, research and calls to retired faculty and > administrators, > meetings with Faculty, Deans and Chairs, and ultimately motivating them to > write and meet with the University's lawyer! > > Now if I can learn about refinishing without botching this. :) I > understand that you suggest I paint the entire front of the piano, > top-to-bottom, and blend where the case rounds around at the far tip of > the > tail, not where the deep scratch stops at the bend. Correct? > > Is there a brand of spray-can paint that is known to be a good match for > Steinway ebony, or do I just buy a couple cans at Home Depot and shoot it > on > another surface to check match? Lacquer or enamel? Satin or Gloss? Does > it matter? What do I use to "rub out?" Soft cloths with some kind of > rubbing compound? > > Lots of research to do before I start this one! It will be a busy summer. > Thanks again, Ed. > > Paul Milesi, RPT > Washington, DC > (202) 667-3136 > E-mail: paul at pmpiano.com > Website: http://www.pmpiano.com > > >> From: Ed Sutton <ed440 at mindspring.com> >> Reply-To: Ed Sutton <ed440 at mindspring.com>, <caut at ptg.org> >> Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 08:44:23 -0400 >> To: <caut at ptg.org> >> Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway D Case Repair & Refinishing (Institutional) >> >> Paul- >> >> You can do a very effective stage repair of the side of the case, using >> auto >> body filler from the auto supply store. >> Don't skimp. Go through the grades of filler putty. Use all the grades of >> abrasive with support pads to blend it in absolutely flat. Find black >> primer. Try different kinds of spray black until you find the best match. >> Mask off at the edges so the tone change occurs unseen on the corners of >> the >> rim, and fade and blend around the tail. Practice until you find the >> right >> touch for satinizing the finish. >> >> Consider sending the fall board to a professional refinisher. This is >> what >> the performer sees, and with some clever touch up around the front of the >> case, the performer will see "new piano." >> >> This could be a real winner in faculty relations, as people who know >> nothing >> about pianos will respond in amazement if you make the old clunker look >> new >> on stage. >> >> have fun! >> >> Ed Sutton >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Paul Milesi, RPT" <paul at pmpiano.com> >> To: "PTG CAUT List" <caut at ptg.org>; "PTG Pianotech List" >> <pianotech at ptg.org> >> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 3:33 PM >> Subject: [CAUT] Steinway D Case Repair & Refinishing (Institutional) >> >> >>> List, >>> >>> As you may recall, I wrote a few months back about the possibility of >>> our >>> music department finally claiming possession of a 1970 Steinway D which >>> has >>> been in the Chapel on our campus, and moving it to the Recital Hall >>> within >>> the Department of Music. Approval for a move to our Recital Hall has >>> just >>> been granted! The piano was a bequest to the School of Music in 1970 >>> from >>> the former head of piano studies. The piano was new at the time it was >>> received, and was placed in the Chapel because there was no recital hall >>> at >>> that time. This piano will, hopefully, become our main "recital piano," >>> replacing a 15-year-old Yamaha C5. The D has new hammers, shanks and >>> flanges one year ago (original reps). Key bushings were replaced. >>> Needs >>> full regulation and voicing, pulley keys fixed, and other things. >>> >>> For years this D has been stored in a narrow alcove with a metal railing >>> on >>> one side, and the piano is scraped along it every time it is used. (SEE >>> ATTACHED PHTOTOS.) Don't ask me why...I don't know! This kind of >>> treatment >>> is incomprehensible to me. You can also see that the fallboard is not >>> only >>> worn, but actually scalloped from finger nails. Is there a way to >>> "fill" >>> those scallops, or would you recommend a new fallboard? >>> >>> Anyway, I'm trying desperately to save this instrument at absolute >>> minimal >>> cost (we barely came up with moving money). We would like the piano to >>> be >>> presentable in terms of visual aesthetic for recitals in our 120-seat >>> recital hall. Estimate for refinishing the whole piano was $10-13K, and >>> we >>> simply don't have the money. And basically the case is OK, showing some >>> wear, except for the gross damage you see in the photos. >>> >>> So here's my question: What are some reasonable options for an >>> acceptable >>> "fix" of this case? Should I undertake myself to fill with putty, mask >>> it >>> off, and spray with a can of lacquer? I say this somewhat jokingly, but >>> also know if I did that very carefully, the damage would at least be >>> less >>> obvious--like a racing stripe, perhaps. ;) It will be hard to make it >>> worse, I think, unless I spread paint or putty on good parts of the case >>> finish. I've seen spray paint repair done on some institutional pianos >>> in >>> hotels, schools and churches, but have always detested that "masking" >>> approach. Perhaps now I'll be forced to adopt it myself? :( >>> >>> Seriously, what should I do? We'd like to get this done this summer, >>> while >>> I work on the action and lyre. I'm pretty ignorant of what would need >>> to >>> be >>> done here, wood-wise, other than to somehow "fill" the gouge and then >>> veneer >>> and refinish, blending with current finish? I don't know...is >>> "blending" >>> the finish even possible? Please help me out with your takes on this. >>> Remember: I have minimal woodworking experience. :) >>> >>> One other consideration: The piano must be moved up 3 flights of >>> stairs -- >>> at considerable expense -- to the Recital Hall, as there is no elevator >>> that >>> will accommodate it. I just thought before moving it up there, perhaps >>> it >>> should go to somebody's shop to have the face fixed, saving another >>> in-and-out move at a later date. The one piano refinisher I know gave >>> me >>> the above quotes, and thought anything less would not be doable, that >>> it's >>> quite a mess. I don't know anybody else to do it, although I have a >>> couple >>> inquiries out. How do I accomplish an acceptable intermediate solution >>> over the summer without making a worse mess? Can this work be done, now >>> or >>> later, while the piano is on the Recital Hall stage? >>> >>> Sorry, I got rather long-winded. >>> >>> Paul Milesi >>> >>> >> >> > >
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