Replies

1. 
   Westchester | Mar 10, 2012 06:21pm | #1

   Peace Be With You !

   I'm not sure if I'm reading correctly - are you staining over an existing finish ?  If that is so - you're only going to get marginal results improving color.  If your trying to go over the existing finish I can help with a steadier step -  so dost not fall -

   SA

1. 
   sinsin | Mar 10, 2012 07:44pm | #2

   refinishing a piano

   I'm trying to go over the existing finish. I did try the Circa stain (basically a paint with a lot of dryers) and will have to use a varnish remover to take it off. Fortunately it was only a small area that I used the Circa stain on. 

1. 
   roc | Mar 10, 2012 10:31pm | #3

   Oh now . . .

    >will have to use a varnish remover to take it off<

   I bet if you put a good splash of paint thinner, NOT paint remover, on a coarse cloth and give the stain a rub it will come right off.  Getting new finish to stick to old finish is the hard part.  Usually the new coat will get up and run away on it's own when you are not looking.

2. 
   Westchester | Mar 11, 2012 09:30am | #4

   Third Sunday

   Listen to Roc(K) a good disciple here - wash off what you can with fine steel wool and thinners.  Get shellac in the small spray cans - seal over any raw areas where there is color loss.  Light sand - than suggest thin your circa stain half strenght with the same thinners so not to cover grains 100%  - than using a small brush try to faux paint over the worn areas and restore color. 

   Please understand this is not the way to do things and especially if you've not done it before but I'll offer up what I think can help -

   Regards,

   SA

3. 
   GretchenTHE FIRST | Mar 11, 2012 12:26pm | #5

   Oh please, don't use paint remover. You'll take off more than just the stuff you put on. Maybe what Roc said will work. You might have done better using something like Howard's Restor-a-finish.

   Refinishing a piano is NOT something for a novice finisher. You may have made more of a problem than you had at first.

2. 
   sinsin | Mar 11, 2012 01:36pm | #6

   re-finishing piano

   Thanks to SA, Rock & GTF for your comments.  I should have been more explicit in my first post - - - the piano does not have to be restored because of "wear".  It is more a problem of either the original veneer, glue or substrate as some areas look original and others have blotches - - that are not caused by being in the sun.  The piano remains covered during the week.  I will follow your suggestions and make a reply in about 4 - 6 weeks - - - I work slowly!!

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Mar 12, 2012 12:36am | #7

   Can you post some pictures that show the contrast between the good areas and the blotchy areas.  It's a bit hard to visualize the problems?

   But, you don't want to be either using paint stripper or sand paper to remove old finish.  Particularly, note that it is impossible to sand off the old finish without destroying the wood and making refinishing almost impossible.  Once you do that it becomes a complete refinishing problem, and that's a project most professional refinishers hesitate to take on.  It's not for amateurs. 

   At the most you should first do no harm, or in your case use fine steel wool and mineral spirits to gentle remove any remaining stain or varnish/stain, removing as little of the existing finish surface as possible. 

   If a little touch up color is the ultimate solution, the best approach will be with some sprayed on toner.  This is most likely pro territory too, though the materials are available in rattle cans from Behlen or other specialized sources. 

   If this really looks pretty bad, then you should be heading up the search for a family that wants to name the xxxxx Memorial Piano after funding the refinishing by a professional. 

   One more thing.  If this were covered for most of it's life, and parts of the finish--or worse the veneer itself-- has been damaged, I'd suspect the cover itself as being part of the problem.  Covers should breathe, and should not bring plastic into contact with the finish.   

1. 
   sinsin | Mar 12, 2012 10:52am | #8

   Refinishing Piano

   Sorry, I don;t have the camera.  The cover should not be the problem- - it is a medium weight fabric - - heavy enough to keep out the dust yet still 'breath'.

   My biggest challenge wil be to satisfy the colour experts in thy chapel.  As I see it now, testing the Circa stain diluted with thinner on similar substrate will be the route and probably mixing two different colours for tests.

   I appreciate your critique.

1. 
   roc | Mar 12, 2012 09:49pm | #9

   Don't have the camera

   Please consider :

   If you are posting on a computer, most computers have the video camera at the top of the screen for doing video conferencing, Skype etc.

   You can take a photo using that camera if you put your computer near the piano.

   On my Mac it is an application called "Photo Booth ".  That's how I took this photo.

   http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#createbuddy