<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:st1 = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16587" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Thanks, Terry,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Gary,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">C'mon buddy, lighten up.  I do think Wim's response was constructive and helpful given your original post, which as Terry F. points out, makes it sound as though you've never applied a finish before.  You didn't ask what product we all use for ebony color, you asked, "How would one apply an ebony finish to my piano?"  Wim told you very concisely.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Please consider that I try to have my responses generally mirror the technical level of the question.  All sorts of folks post to the list, non-techs, finishing experts, rebuilders, tuning maestros; we can't assume your experience, but must interpret that from your post.  I thought Wim and I both did that, given the phrasing of your question.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">Your second post was not really necessary.  No one tried to treat you like an idiot in public.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style">William R. Monroe</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style"></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT><BR></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Wow. That's sure a mouthful of dribble. Mr. Fluke, you are way off base here. I thought Willem's response was thoughtful and constructive. William's addition was also. To be honest, I didn't respond at all to your inquiry, because my initial thought was "who would ask a question like that? - they need to go to a library and read up on refinishing furniture." I didn't want to sound sarcastic. Your original post sounds like you know nothing about refinishing and don't have a clue as to where to start.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>I think you may have omitted your 50 years of experience with refinishing in your original post.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Who got your shorts in a knot this morning?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Take a chill pill and rest a while.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial>Terry Farrell</FONT></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=gary.fluke@verizon.net href="mailto:gary.fluke@verizon.net">Gary Fluke</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">Pianotech List</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, December 31, 2007 3:02 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Ebony finish</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial>Willem,</FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></P> <P 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></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></P> <P 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></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></o:p></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial>Gary Fluke</FONT></P> <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Snohomish</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">WA</st1:State></st1:place> </FONT></P></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>www.pianotuning.com<BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Gary Fluke <gary.fluke@verizon.net><BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org<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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