Frank and list,I suggest that the refinishing process is largely a matter of personal preference (within reason.) I've since deleted the message, but I do recall someone mentioning the use of defthane. I have always stayed away from the use of defthane or any other polyurethane product on sound boards (or acoustic guitars, violins, etc.) because the polyurethane creates virtually a "plastic" coating over the wood. Sealing the wood in this manner would prevent it from "breathing." I've never done any testing to determine if a polyurethane finish on the board would alter the tone or resonance of the piano, perhaps Del or others have. I would be interested in anyone else's thoughts on polyurethane on a sound board. When it's my choice, I've always used nitrocellulose lacquer on boards because I like the appearance produced by clear coating clean spruce. If the customer has a preference, I'll apply whatever she wants. Shellac, varnish and nitrocellulose all "breathe." With no empirical evidence, Danny Moore Houston Chapter Frank Weston wrote: > To refinish, rub or brush two or three coats of cut orange shellac > onto the board. Polish if you must.<<snip>> Reblitz says to add a > coat of varnish, but I think this is unnecessary. Most of the vintage > soundboards I have seen needed refinishing because of dirt, scratches, > and cracks, not because the shellac had deteriorated. It the shellac > is good for 90 or so years, why attempt to improve on the process?
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