<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=us-ascii"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2802" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY style="BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; = BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none"> <DIV dir=ltr align=left>But seriously folks, one can strip all the old = finish off the ebony sharps, sand them and then use e.g. Tung Oil or Danish = penetrating resin (Watco) to preserve the wood and yet leave its beauty visible - = no? AT least that's what SHeldon Smith taught me to do back in = '71.</DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left> </DIV> <DIV dir=ltr align=left> <DIV class=Section1> || ||| || ||| || ||| || = ||| || ||| || ||| || Jason Kanter . jkanter@rollingball.com Piano tuning, regulation, repair Serving = Seattle and the San Juans <BIG>425.830.1561</BIG>  </DIV></DIV> <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left> <HR tabIndex=-1> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of David Ilvedson Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 11:53 = AM To: tune4u@earthlink.net; pianotech@ptg.org Subject: Re: Anything = wrong with finishing keysticks? </DIV> <DIV></DIV> Thump's not going to like that...;-] David = Ilvedson, RPT Pacifica, California <DIV style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; = BORDER-LEFT: #000000 3px solid; PADDING-TOP: 5px"> <HR> Original message From: "Alan Barnard" <TUNE4U@EARTHLINK.NET> To: = Pianotech <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> Received: 2/28/2006 11:09:58 AM Subject: Re: = Anything wrong with finishing keysticks? Ah, well. As a heavy carnivore concerned = about the environment and preserving scarce tropical woods, I have found the ideal = solution to the problem, one that is all organic and beautifully = natural: I eat with my fingers before playing the piano! That way the animal grease = protects the wood from my highly destructive sweat ... and makes it real shiny, too. Alan Barnard Salem, Missouri > Dear Terry, >      I agree with you that = natural ebony is gorgeous. > It is NOT however, impervious to the acidic sweats and > salts in fingers, not to mention boogers, various > = bodily fluids, etc..  Some people ( especially heavy > carnivores, = as a matter of fact) have REALLY > destructive sweat, and I've seen = plenty of pianos > where the sharps, and sides of naturals, for that > = matter, are quite literally melted away. I might leave > the sharps = unfinished on my ! own piano, as I wash my > hands every time I use it. But for = the general > "hoi-poloi"? Nope. Bad idea, unless you enjoy > = depleting rare wood species. >      = Thump >  </DIV></BODY></HTML>