<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Didn’t they know to spread kitty litter on top the soundboard?  That would have helped with the stain problem, provided it was changed out on a regular basis...turn the piano upside down and dump it out is the best way, but I don’t know what they would do with the strings rusting.  WD-40 maybe?<o:p></o:p> Joy!<o:p></o:p> Elwood<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Elwood Doss, Jr., M.M.E., RPT<o:p></o:p> Piano Technician/Technical Director<o:p></o:p> Department of Music<o:p></o:p> 145 Fine Arts Building<o:p></o:p> The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Tennessee</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> at Martin<o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Martin</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">TN</st1:State>  <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">38238</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><o:p></o:p> 731/881-1852<o:p></o:p> FAX: 731/881-7415<o:p></o:p> HOME: 731/587-5700<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: Joel A. Jones [mailto:jajones2@wisc.edu] Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2007 9:11 AM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: Litter box soundboard<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Jim, <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Dale is on the mark - #1. shoot the cat ! ! ! <o:p></o:p> Then replace the bass strings and any treble <o:p></o:p> strings that have been contaminated. The reason <o:p></o:p> is the urine eats through the steel strings quickly. <o:p></o:p> Ideal solution is to replace EVERYTHING. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I am just finishing a Steinway that had the bass <o:p></o:p> string core wire completely eaten away . The winding <o:p></o:p> held the string in. This happened within 2 weeks while <o:p></o:p> the owner was away and the cat sitter didn't notice <o:p></o:p> what was happening. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> After removing the strings find a vet that specializes <o:p></o:p> in cats for a product that masks the smell of the urine. <o:p></o:p> My spray is at the shop but I think it is called 'Icky Poo'. <o:p></o:p> Follow directions, and use it everywhere. In the action <o:p></o:p> under the plate, test the finish for safe use, and keep <o:p></o:p> the areas wet as the label directions describes the <o:p></o:p> process. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I am going to guess that the owner is an older, single lady. <o:p></o:p> Recently I was involved with a situation where a <o:p></o:p> lady had 70 cats in her house. There is a disease <o:p></o:p> with a long name, that occurs with older, single women <o:p></o:p> who take in cats. Both her houses were condemned and <o:p></o:p> razed. She had moved to another town trying to escape <o:p></o:p> the health department. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> We tried an experiment to save her console <o:p></o:p> piano with the icky spray treatment. The action damage was <o:p></o:p> repairable, as the cats did not get inside the piano. <o:p></o:p> The case was amazingly unharmed with no loose <o:p></o:p> veneer. Keys were naturally 'sticking'. After a very <o:p></o:p> extensive cleaning we thought it was OK. She <o:p></o:p> consigned the piano to a dealer, who eventually <o:p></o:p> put it in the landfill. The piano did not smell , but <o:p></o:p> he found that several employees were allergic to cats <o:p></o:p> and their reaction was immediate when they came <o:p></o:p> near the piano. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> A long saga, and perhaps a bit off topic, however <o:p></o:p> the short answer stands - shoot the cat otherwise <o:p></o:p> the same litter box situation will reoccur. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Joel <o:p></o:p> Joel Jones, RPT <o:p></o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Madison</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">WI</st1:State></st1:place> <o:p></o:p> On Mar 30, 2007, at 11:39 PM, Jim Johnson wrote: <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>  I have a customer with a Kawai grand which has apparently been used as a <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> litter box.  I'm looking for suggestions for removing stains from the <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> soundboard without further damaging the strings with cleaning liquids.  I <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> have cleaned it using dry methods but it still looks gross.  Attached is a <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> photo of the problem. Any help will be greatly appreciated. You can see the mess is you go to the following link.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>   <o:p></o:p> http://www.pbase.com/jhjpiano/image/76413280<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>   <o:p></o:p>   <o:p></o:p>   <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>