refinishing frustrations

[Robert Edwardsen]

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Hi Greg,=20

Another option is to scrape as much old finish off as possible to avoid =
working with stripper, nasty stuff, and only bleach when there is color =
variation that needs to be evened out.

Rob E.
  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Mark Potter=20
  To: Pianotech=20
  Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 5:47 AM
  Subject: Re: refinishing frustrations


  Hi Greg -

  When you say the wood seems to end up darker than you would like when =
you try to even out the color are you referring to evening out the color =
from one piece to the next (i.e. - making the legs the same color as the =
fallboard), or evening out some color 'blotchiness' you may encounter on =
an individual piece?  If you are referring to blotchiness, I would say =
you are inflicting this on yourself in the stripping process by being =
more aggressive in some areas than in others in either scrubbing or =
sanding.
  =20
  In my experience, if you just let the stripper remove the finish to =
the point where a putty knife will easily scrape it off, that avoids =
pitfall # 1 - scrubbing real hard in stubborn places to remove finish =
still adhering. Then if you lightly scrub/rinse WITH THE SAME EVEN =
PRESSURE THRUOUT using either a water/alcohol, lacquer thinner, or TSP =
rinse (or combination of all 3)with #1 steel wool or maroon scotchbrite =
pad, you should have all pieces stripped clean, free of any blotchiness. =
 I am not a big fan of inflicting further aggression on the wood after =
achieving this state other than a light sanding with 150 - 220.  My =
personal opinion is that bleaching robs the wood - especially mahogany - =
of some depth that is not retrievable. Just my opinion, FWIW.  Nor have =
I found it necessary or desirable to go after the old filler with scrub =
brushes, but to each his own. =20

  As far as keeping the color as light as possible, I will generally =
pick the darkest piece of the lot, and only dye as necessary to get the =
rest of the pieces to that shade. I would consider this then to be the =
lightest this wood wants to be.  I prefer to take what the wood is =
giving me and work with it, rather than to impose a completely different =
color regimen that is much lighter in tone and requires bleaching to get =
there.  Seems to me this is like "askin' for a fight".... ;-)

  I will say that of the three common liquids I use for cleaning after =
stripping - alcohol, lacquer thinner, TSP - the TSP removes the most =
color.  FWIW.

  Mark Potter

  Greg Newell <gnewell@ameritech.net> wrote:
    list,
    I wonder if you all (as many opinions as I can get) would=20
    enlighten me on what you do in the stripping process. I'm =
specifically=20
    interested in everything that comes before repairs and coloring etc. =

    Perhaps more to the point is whether or not you are seeking to make =
the=20
    wood as bare as possible i.e. devoid of any color, or are you simply =

    removing topcoat, then repairing, even out color and re-topcoat? It =
seems=20
    that my attempts seem to bring the finished product darker than I =
would=20
    like by attempting to make everything the same color. I have only =
removed=20
    finish in the past but am contemplating bleaching. Is this necessary =
in=20
    order to get the lighter colors I'm after? Would you be kind enough =
to=20
    describe exactly the steps and materials and tools you use in the =
stripping=20
    process? Thanks in advance.

    Greg Newell
    Greg's ! piano Fort=E9
    mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net=20


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