Sorry but perhaps I may have over stated. The piano is not of any monetary
value but more of sentimental. I simply would like to strip and refinish to
a reasonable finish (coffee table top). Not a mirror finish. I believe the
wood is walnut. I have done considerable woodworking however not any
stripping and refinishing.That is why I am looking for step by step
instructions.
Upscale wrote:
> 3) Use, buy, borrow, rent or whatever an orbital sander. If you can get
> something with a dust collector port attached, all the better, since it's an
> enclosed space. Get a suitable dust mask and/or face shield too. This is an
> enclosed area, right?
The veneer on some pianos is very thin - DAMHIKT. Aggressive sanding is not a
good idea.
--
It's turtles, all the way down
"Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> Sorry but perhaps I may have over stated. The piano is not of any monetary
> value but more of sentimental. I simply would like to strip and refinish
to
> a reasonable finish (coffee table top). Not a mirror finish. I believe the
> wood is walnut. I have done considerable woodworking however not any
> stripping and refinishing.That is why I am looking for step by step
> instructions.
I assume you're going to be refinishing it inside. A piano is pretty big and
heavy, upright, grand or whatever. So, if it was me, I'd attack the
situation with that perspective in mind.
It's going to take you awhile to get the whole job done.
1) Figure out a corner of a room where you can work on it and is amenable to
taping up some drop sheets to segregate it from everything else.
2) Look into some non-toxic strippers. The amount of stripper you're going
to be using, it would be unadvisable to use anything else inside the home.
Talk to your local paint supplier.
3) Use, buy, borrow, rent or whatever an orbital sander. If you can get
something with a dust collector port attached, all the better, since it's an
enclosed space. Get a suitable dust mask and/or face shield too. This is an
enclosed area, right?
4) If any part of the surface of the piano is marred beyond sanding
capability, then you're going to have to look into some type of wood filler.
Again, see your local wood store or paint supplier. I wouldn't be too quick
to go to a Home Depot for any of this stuff, you'll get better service and
better advice from a local paint business.
5) Not knowing what kind of finish is on the piano, I can only suggest how
to proceed. The easiest route is if you're putting on a finish similar to
what you've stripped. That way any blemishes that sanding didn't catch will
be minimized. Whatever you choose, do some tests in some inconspicuous areas
on the piano.
Once you get a finish you like, just follow the instructions and be
satisfied with what you've done. I hope you've got the stamina for all the
elbow grease you're going to have to put into this. If you're like me,
you'll curse and swear your way through the entire project, but it will be
worth it in the end.
Enjoy!
On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 03:50:28 GMT, "Lee" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Sorry but perhaps I may have over stated. The piano is not of any monetary
>value but more of sentimental. I simply would like to strip and refinish to
>a reasonable finish (coffee table top). Not a mirror finish. I believe the
>wood is walnut. I have done considerable woodworking however not any
>stripping and refinishing.That is why I am looking for step by step
>instructions.
>
>
See. Was that so hard to say? By all means strip it, sand it and
recoat it with what ever clear material you normally work with.
Sorry about the green paint, but you did use heirloom and refinish in
the same sentence.
Pete
www.refinishwizard.com posts might be helpful.
On Tue, 25 Jul 2006 03:50:28 GMT, "Lee" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Sorry but perhaps I may have over stated. The piano is not of any monetary
>value but more of sentimental. I simply would like to strip and refinish to
>a reasonable finish (coffee table top). Not a mirror finish. I believe the
>wood is walnut. I have done considerable woodworking however not any
>stripping and refinishing.That is why I am looking for step by step
>instructions.
>
Lee wrote:
> Sorry but perhaps I may have over stated. The piano is not of any monetary
> value but more of sentimental. I simply would like to strip and refinish to
> a reasonable finish (coffee table top). Not a mirror finish. I believe the
> wood is walnut. I have done considerable woodworking however not any
> stripping and refinishing.That is why I am looking for step by step
> instructions.
>
>
Lee,
If the piano is nitrocellulose lacquer, and there is a very good chance
it is, you might find the info here helpful.
http://antiqueradios.com/features/lacquer.shtml
Stewart