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<DIV><FONT size=2>I prefer to not have to put the piano through plate =
and string
assembly with a new finish. It's easy to nick it up. So I =
usually
send it to the finisher after I am done with the rebuild. The only =
real
problem the plate causes is the finishing of the inner rim. =
So, I
strip and sand the finish on the inner rim when the plate is out. =
There
are exceptions. I am doing a piano now that was painted white, =
including
the inner rim. The work involved in removing the white was =
extensive
enough that I sent it off after the board was done but without the =
plate.
When it came back I only needed to drop the plate and go from =
there. I
picked up an apron for the case so that I could work around the piano =
without
damaging the finish on the sides, covered the stretcher with a thick =
piece of
felt during restringing, and covered the front edge of the key =
bed.
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<DIV><FONT size=2>David Love</FONT></DIV>
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