[pianotech] Refinishing ebony sharps?

[Bill Costanzo]

Kurt, There's one spray can that works well: Krylon SEMI-FLAT Black #1613.
Wash the keys thoroughly with lacquer thinner and or denatured alcohol (pour
a little in a small container and dip either paper towels a small rag, or if
they are really gunked up 0000 steel wool) let them dry and spray away. I've
done dozens of sets of keys like this and never had a problem with
crazing/cracking.  Don't forget good ventilation and an appropriate
respirator.  The semi flat finish looks great, is easy to apply, and very
durable.   Of course if the wood is really ebony you could chose to just
clean and clear coat them. A wipe on polyurethane is easy to apply. On the
other hand if they are badly chewed up, nothing will make them look good;
replace them. Hope this helps.

Bill Costanzo

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of kurt baxter
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 11:28 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: [pianotech] Refinishing ebony sharps?

 

Ok, what are my options to re-black worn ebony sharps?

I have only attempted this myself once, and the stuff I used (some sort of
spray black lacquer I think)
did this really horrible crazing/cracking thing as it dried.

A refinisher friend told me it was a result of the lacquer reacting with the
finger oils that had soaked
into the parts that were worn down to bare wood. She ended up having to
aggressively strip all the
old black off and start new.

Is there any way to avoid this?
Can I make then look better (if not perfect) without stripping them?




[kurt]

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20081206/5620d69e/attachment.html>