<html> At 01:10 PM 12/10/2001 -0800, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite cite>Just kind of wondering- Has anyone ever experimented with refinishing pianos with a polyurethane type finish?  I was browsing the finishing department at my local Home Depot when a display sample caught my eye.  You know, those little samples of wood that have had brand "x" applied to show you what the product looks like.  I have to admit some of them looked pretty darn good.  One of them was a "crystal clear" variety which was very smooth and uniform and was quite heavy and durable.  It looked virtually identical to a coat of  clear Polyester.  It is also available in a satin version.  I would guess that a coloring powder could be added for an ebony finish.  The container also says that it can be applied by a sprayer.  All of this would SUGGEST that you you could apply a "simulated polyester finish", (for lack of a better term), for a more modern look on an old piano.  The questions are: 1.  Will it last 50 years?  2.  Is it practical to refinish a piano this way or would you spend three months of your life sanding, rubbing, and polishing? Rob Goodale, RPT Las Vegas, NV </blockquote> I can't attest to the hardness of that material but any finish will take elbow grease to rub out. As far as the satin coating, don't build up the finish with a satin. The flattening agent will cloud the finish. Build up the surface with clear gloss and apply the satin on the final two or three coats. But if you're looking for a finish which is easy to apply and is easy to rub out and is tough as nails I highly recommend PianoLac available from Arthur Grudko.  <a href="mailto:Gutlo@bestweb.net"= eudora="autourl">mailto</a>:Gutlo@bestweb<a= href="mailto:Gutlo@bestweb.net" eudora="autourl">.net</a> The black is balck, black; it matches the old black lacquer and polyester.  Buffs to a high gloss too. Regards, Jon Page,   piano technician Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass. <a href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net"= eudora="autourl">mailto:</a>jonpage<a href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net= " eudora="autourl">@mediaone.net</a> <a href="http://www.stanwoodpiano.com/"= eudora="autourl">http://www.stanwoodpiano.com</a> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</html>