[pianotech] Steinway D Case Repair & Refinishing (Institutional)

[Paul Milesi, RPT]

My apologies for attaching such large picture files to the original post.  I
didn't realize I had sent the photos in such high resolution.  Hopefully
nobody is on dial-up.  :)

Paul Milesi, RPT
Washington, DC
(202) 667-3136
E-mail:  paul at pmpiano.com
Website:  http://www.pmpiano.com


> From: "Paul Milesi, RPT" <paul at pmpiano.com>
> Reply-To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 15:33:52 -0400
> To: PTG CAUT List <caut at ptg.org>, PTG Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Conversation: Steinway D Case Repair & Refinishing (Institutional)
> Subject: [pianotech] 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
>