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Hi Gary. Hi, Wim. Let's remember this is a very cool, formal, almost brutal medium; a thoughtless phrase can trigger a volcanic response---and none of that would have happened in a face-to-face conversation.<div><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Gary, chill out. Really. Wim didn't make you an idiot. Your question was this:</div><div>"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">How would one apply an ebony finish to my piano?"</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">Not <b>what</b>, as you maintain in your reply; <b>how</b> was the question; that naturally could lead one to speculate or assume that you don't know anything about applying finish or refinishing or anything to do with the finish of a piano---hence Wim's response. Relax, take a breath, pause, and then respond appropriately, my brother.</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">Wim, this is a good lesson in 1) not assuming anything, and 2) judge not lest ye be judged. Asking questions and gathering information is <b>always</b> preferable to assumption in <b>every</b> realm of life. In my opinion. <g></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">Best,</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial">David Andersen</font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial"><br></font><div><div>On Dec 31, 2007, at 12:02 PM, Gary Fluke wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Arial">Willem,</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><font face="Arial"> </font></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Arial">I do appreciate that you have told me to use black lacquer to get an ebony finish.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>I don’t appreciate your tone and your assumption that I am an idiot with a spray can.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Was it my use of the word “apply”?<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></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> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>Gee, who would have thought to sand between coats?<span> Pull the keys out? Gee, I never thought of that...</span>You are appearing to be pompous regarding a simple little subject.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></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> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>If you continue this behavior, I will consider you to be a buffoon.</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><font face="Arial"> </font></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Arial">I’ve been applying finishes, such as paint, to things for fifty years and will continue to do so.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>I made a living in the Surface Finishing industry for thirty years, both in manufacturing and selling the products used.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span> </span>I just didn’t know which product was used to make a piano black.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></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 style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><font face="Arial"> </font></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><o:p><font face="Arial"> </font></o:p></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Arial">Gary Fluke</font></div><div style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; "><font face="Arial"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Snohomish</st1:city>,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><st1:state w:st="on">WA</st1:state></st1:place></font></div></div><blockquote dir="ltr" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-width: 2px; border-left-style: solid; margin-right: 0px; "><div style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal arial; ">----- Original Message -----</div><div style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: rgb(228, 228, 228); font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal arial; background-position: initial initial; "><b>From:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="wimblees@aol.com" href="mailto:wimblees@aol.com">Willem Blees</a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal arial; "><b>To:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a title="pianotech@ptg.org" href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</a></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal arial; "><b>Sent:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Monday, December 31, 2007 10:09 AM</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 10pt/normal arial; "><b>Subject:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br>The Business of Piano Tuning<br>available from Potter Press<br>www.pianotuning.com<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. Check out the new<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp00050000000003" target="_blank">AOL Mail</a>!<br></div></blockquote></span></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>