<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><div>I&#39;d like to add, Doug, that I&#39;ve had amazing results in cosmetic improvement of old pianos by simply (thoroughly) scrubbing the cases with 4/0 steel wool and naptha and paper towels (removes a lot of dirt and darkness) and then wpining on a coat of oil stain thinly (fills scratches and worn areas), letting it dry very well, and spraying on some Deft(TM). What do you do to clean the old finish prior to the French polishing?<br /></div></td></tr></table>            <div id="_origMsg_">
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                                <span style="font-weight:bold;">From:</span>
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                            Douglas Gregg &lt;classicpianodoc@gmail.com&gt;;                            <br>
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                                <span style="font-weight:bold:">To:</span>
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                             &lt;pianotech@ptg.org&gt;;                                                                                                     <br>
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                                <span style="font-weight:bold:">Subject:</span>
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                            [pianotech] Ny Times article on pianos                            <br>
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                                <span style="font-weight:bold;">Sent:</span>
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                            Tue, Jul 31, 2012 12:05:04 AM                            <br>
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                                        <td valign="top" style="font:inherit;">I see a lot of old pianos that need new homes. I take a few in for<BR>restoration, I repair a few for a lot less than thousands. Some I tell<BR>others about and they take them home and hopefully eventually ask me<BR>to make them better. My approach will probably sound like blasphemy to<BR>many restorers out there. However, there are a lot of pianos that can<BR>be made quite serviceable for under $1000. Some of these old pianos<BR>have seen very little use and need mostly some cleaning, lubricating,<BR>and French polishing. French polishing can bring an old piano back to<BR>beautiful condition in 6-8 hours. there is no comparison to<BR>refinishing prices. That is my way of conserving this resource. AND<BR>the old pianos sound a lot better than a new chinese piano, period.<BR><BR>Doug Gregg<BR>Classic Piano Doc<BR></td>
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