Piano refinsihing question

[Greg Newell]

Mark,

                Could you describe a formal rubbed ebony finish? Please?!
Thanks in advance!!

 

Greg Newell

Greg's Piano Forté

www.gregspianoforte.com

216-226-3791 (office)

216-470-8634 (mobile)

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Mark Potter
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 6:47 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: Piano refinsihing question

 

Steve -

 

To echo Al's remarks, using that much sanding sealer to fill the grain is
usually not advisable.  It still doesn't explain why the lacquer "will not
take", though.  Do you mean it is literally not adhering, or that it has
significant transparency?  

 

Am I correct in assuming that your sanding sealer was a 'lacquer' sanding
sealer?  Hope so, or you may have compatibility issues.  In terms of your
lacquer being too transparent, I would guess that either: 1) you have not
thoroughly mixed the pigment in the lacquer, or 2) you are not applying a
thick enough film.  I wouldn't worry about applying more than two coats of
lacquer, and if you are planning on doing a formal rubbed finish you will
certainly want a minimum of 4-5 coats, usually more, to minimize rub-thru.

 

For future consideration, a better, more durable finish process would be to
fill the grain with tinted grain filler.  Then apply a couple coats of black
(or dark grey) primer compatible with your finish lacquer, then as many
topcoats required to get the finish you desire.  If it's an 'off-the-gun'
finish you will not need as much topcoat material as you would if you were
doing a formal rubbed ebony finish.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Mark Potter

Steve Ellemberg <Steve at store.parks.ca.gov> wrote:

I am trying to restore a piano that was originally wood grained and will
soon have an Ebony finish. I found a post on ptg.org that contained detailed
instructions with the following steps: multiple coats of sanding sealer,
followed by several coats of black lacquer and clear lacquer, sanding in
between each coat..

I already have the piano completely disassembled and have applied 3 coats of
sanding sealer, with more than 30 hours of sealing and sanding.

My instructions were to apply semi-gloss black lacquer (cut by 50% with
thinner) after the last coat of sanding sealer (after 400 grit sanding), but
when I tried this, the black lacquer would not take, it is almost completely
transparent. I tried to repeat the step with 100% lacquer and it is
still very transparent. It would take about 5 coats to cover it
completely and it is not recommended to use more than two coats thick.

Would you have any suggestions on how to make the lacquer cover the old
color of the piano.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Steve




-- 
Steven Ellemberg
Project Director, California State Parks Store
http://store.parks.ca.gov
PRIDE Industries
Creating jobs for people with disabilities
Office: 408.842.1478 Cell: 916.847.1390 Fax: 408.413.5305

 

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