My wife and I are piano rebuilders (experienced). We have just received for restoration an 1896 Steinway with more severe veneer checking than I have ever seen. Black piano, shellac finish, looks like the shellac film is broken at each grain, even lifted just a tiny.
We are concerned that this is veneer movement, not just finish checking, because in the past where we have seen one or two of these grain checks, they often return, creating a little crack in the new finish. This piano has them all over! We don’t want to estimate the cost of the finishing until we are sure we can get this under control.
Is there a way to attach or imbed a picture in these posts? If not, I would be happy to email a couple to you, if it would be helpful.
We would appreciate any help with this problem. We will be refinishing in nitrocellulose lacquer.
Thanks,
PianoBob
Replies
Hi PianoBob,
That sounds like a real serious issue you're dealing with so I want to do a bit of research to find a source that will have a real authoritative answer. I guess your first question is for us to confirm that this problem is the veneer and not the finish. Some up-close photos will be helpful.
You can attach an image to a post by using the "Attach Files" tab below the editing window. If you are using a Mac, this feature might be absent. In that case, send it to me in an email ([email protected]).
To embed an image into your post, the picture already needs to be hosted on the Web some where. The steps are: 1. find the image. 2. Right-click on the image and choose "copy" in the drop down window 3. Go back to the editing window and paste the image into the editing window.
Matt Berger
Fine Woodworking
Matt,
Thanks for the reply. We feel that the checking is in the veneer, taking the finish with it. Reasons:
1) the checking is in a pattern which follows what looks like the grain pattern. It reverses course in mirror image at what is obviously a joint.
2) I can push on the surface right at the crack with a fingernail, and it moves toward the substrate, indicating it is lifted right at the edge of the grain.
3) in the past, where we had one or two of these, we have tried sanding them flat or ironing them back down without much success - the new finish cracks at the same spot.
I don't know what kind of wood this would be. If it were a New York Steinway, it would be maple. However, it was made at the Hamburg factory, and we don't see many of those. They often used beech where the New York factory would use maple or birch, but we can't strip a little place yet.
Thanks also for your help in embedding pictures. Below my signature, I have included reduced versions of two which I think show the problem, and can attach full-strength versions to another email if anyone needs them.
By the way, love the magazine - we have subscribed since #1.
Regards, PianoBob (Bob Davis)
View Image
That's appears to be a problem with the veneer, but I can't imagine how you would fix that. I've asked our finishing expert to chime in. He does quite a bit of refinishing so he might have a solution.
Thomas Schrunk, who has written for us in the past, might be someone you want to contact. He veneers Steinways and might be able to give you a consultation. HE's online at http://www.thomasschrunk.com/
Stay tuned...
Matt
Bob,
Concerning the veneer problem;
You said you ran into something similar, to a smaller degree, in the past and the checking reappeared after you refinished. Isn't finishing fun sometimes?
You also stated you haven't stripped anything on this one yet. Are you contemplating passing on it? As you know,once you've touched something,it's your problem.
If you do strip it I would consider a size coat made of hide glue. You can use pearl or rabbit skin glue. Pearl glue has a higher bonding strength and rabbit skin has more flexibility. My gut feeling would be to use rabbit skin glue.
Prepare a stock solution by putting a couple of ounces of granules in a jar or plastic container. Then add enough water to cover it twice. The clue will swell considerably overnight. Be sure your container has a tight fitting lid.
To prepare your size try different proportions of water to glue I.E.
10 ounces of water and one ounce of glue stock. You may find the solution weak and want to add some more glue. Be sure and keep track of proportions. Also be sure and mix it into warm water and keep the solution constantly warm. A double boiler or hot plate will serve you well. Also be sure the top you're applying it to is fairly warm. You can apply it by padding or spraying.
The surface has to be completely prepared and ready to be finished prior to the size coat. I would also consider a wash coat of shellac over it prior to my lacquer coats.
As you know in finishing there is always different problems that creep up. I've done a number of pianos in the past although I've never run into your problem.
I can't promise this is your solution, it's just my opinion on how I would try to alleviate it. Also be sure and refrigerate the left over glue stock. It will keep for about a week this way.
Good luck. Let us know what you end up doing.
Peter Gedrys
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