<div>Gary</div> <div> </div> <div>I'm sorry if I offended you. I didn't answer the question as if you are an idiot, but there are some techs on this list serve who are very inexperienced, and there are even non-techs who know virtually nothing about finishing. I had no way of knowing you have 50 years of experience. But the way you asked the question made it appear you did not know what you are doing. If anything, I guess I should have put a smiley face after the Rustolium remark. But for you to blast me for giving a very elementary answer to an elementary question, which you took offense to, is way out of line. If it offended you, again, I'm sorry, but maybe the next time you can ask the question in a more intelligent way.  </div> <div style="CLEAR: both"><br> Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> www.pianotuning.com</div> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Gary Fluke <gary.fluke@verizon.net><br> To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:02 am<br> Subject: Re: Ebony finish<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_b85ce27f-24f4-442f-bf26-8bc8129fc99a> <div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial>Willem,</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial>I do appreciate that you have told me to use black lacquer to get an ebony finish.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>I don’t appreciate your tone and your assumption that I am an idiot with a spray can.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Was it my use of the word “apply”?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Have you had a bad experience with the word “apply” sometime in the past, or do you just assume people are idiots until you find they might not be?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>Gee, who would have thought to sand between coats?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  Pull the keys out?  Gee, I never thought of that...</SPAN>You are appearing to be pompous regarding a simple little subject.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>The tone of your answer has caused the thread to immediately degenerate, witness William Monroe’s take regarding how I may be inclined to just spray away all over the strings and who knows what with my can of Rustoleum.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>If you continue this behavior, I will consider you to be a buffoon.</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial>I’ve been applying finishes, such as paint, to things for fifty years and will continue to do so.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>I made a living in the Surface Finishing industry for thirty years, both in manufacturing and selling the products used. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I just didn’t know which product was used to make a piano black.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">  </SPAN>If you want to treat me like an idiot in public, I’ll call you on it in public, every time!</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial>Gary Fluke</FONT></div> <div class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial>Snohomish, WA </FONT></div> </div> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div> <div style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=wimblees@aol.com href="mailto:wimblees@aol.com">Willem Blees</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, December 31, 2007 10:09 AM</div> <div style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Ebony finish</div> <div><br> </div> <WBR>Gary<br> <br> You don't "apply" an ebony finish. To make the piano ebony, it would need to be refinished. The old finish has to be taken off and the wood sanded. Then sealer has to be applied, followed by several coats of black lacquer and clear lacquer, sanding in between each coat. To make sure the lacquer doesn't get on the keys and strings, they need to be removed, and the keybed and strings need to be covered with paper. The hardware should also be removed, and before you put them back on, need to be cleaned and polished. <br> <br> Of course that's for a professional looking finish, You can also go down to the hardware store and buy a couple of can of black Rustolium, and just spray away. <br> <br> Willlem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Honolulu, HI<br> Author of <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> <A href="http://www.pianotuning.com/" target=_blank>www.pianotuning.com</A><br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Gary Fluke <<A href="mailto:gary.fluke@verizon.net">gary.fluke@verizon.net</A>><br> To: <A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A><br> Sent: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 7:50 am<br> Subject: Ebony finish<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_6be7d698-85fe-4762-b242-2291a8729e04> <div><FONT face=Arial>I have a Mason and Hamlin console from 1957.  The walnut finish could stand to be done over again.  These pianos were also available in an ebony finish when new.  How would one apply an ebony finish to my piano?</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </div> <div><FONT face=Arial>Gary Fluke</FONT></div> <div><FONT face=Arial>Snohomish, WA</FONT></div> </div> <div class=AOLPromoFooter> <HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"> More new features than ever. 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