[Long Post]
Thanks for the suggestions all! I'll try and look into it and see which is most practical for this situation.
As far as the smell, the cat pee infested stuff stinks. But some stuff like the back rail felt miraculously escaped a spray down. After vaccumming off the cat hair, it seems to be in pretty good condition. Yes I tried the smell test, with a negative result.
Actually, I'm not overly concerned about the smell. This is a private piano, and the owners house smells ... like the piano. Cat mess. So even if I get all the smell out, one won't be able to tell once it goes back home. I plan to get out as much as possible, but with the understanding that there's no way that piano's never going to smell like anything other than cat. And yes, I tried to ask (discretely) if the owner was planning to take the car "to da river," and they said, in fewer words, "heavens no! We love our cat to much to get rid of it!"
Oh boy! Well, at least I'm getting paid well for this....
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Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.comBenPianoPro@comcast.net------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 01-17-2018 11:06
From: Jon Page
Subject: How to Clean This?
I clean the rails with a wire wheel. Then I use a countersink to clean each screw hole bevel. The thin brass brace in the center of the tenor section can be bent to allow the tape and emory cloth to thread underneath, then straighten back out. The holes are punched with an awl. I do a few at a time because sometimes the cloth will advance a little as the flanges are installed or shift back to front.
The tape and cloth are the width of the rail. If anything overhangs the edge, it can restrict what little adjustment can be done. The emory cloth allows for more adjustment than the felt. I don't even allow travel paper to extend beyond the edge of the rail too.
The felt is there for who knows what reason. It's not there for noise reduction because any impact noise it telegraphed thru the screw into the rail. I've seen wax on the felt to stick the flings in place. Felt alone does not lend itself to secure spacing.
I also install screws between the hammer and let off rails to brace the flexible hammer rail, check the archives.
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Regards,
Jon Page
Original Message:
Sent: 01-17-2018 10:28
From: Cecil Snyder
Subject: How to Clean This?
Thanks Jon, I like that idea. And it's gold! But I want to ask a question about that. With the wet/dry paper I usually mark it for the holes and then use a paper punch to clip them out. Will that work on the emory cloth, or do you just use an awl to pierce it?
One thing like about the paper is that it's thinner in comparison with the original cloth and this gives you a little bit more wiggle room when aligning the hammers to the strings. I'm guessing Steinway used the cloth originally for the sake of some acoustic benefit which I've never been able to discern. What's your feeling on that?
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Cecil Snyder
Torrance CA
310-542-7108
Original Message:
Sent: 01-17-2018 05:08
From: Jon Page
Subject: How to Clean This?
Cover the hammer rail with 320 grit emory cloth, it's better than paper. Klingspor has 1" rolls which rip in half for a perfect fit.
https://www.woodworkingshop.com/search.aspx?q=sr00786
Stick it to the rail with double-sided tape used for plastic window insulating, a hardware store item. Don't forget to also install washers.
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Regards,
Jon Page
Original Message:
Sent: 01-17-2018 00:09
From: Cecil Snyder
Subject: How to Clean This?
There is a an admittedly low tech alternative if you don't have a blaster box, which is to giveth action frame a pass with a fine wire wheel chucked into a hand drill and then go over it off with 3M metal polishing pads--the same stuff you'd clean bass strings with. Wipe it down with lacquer thinner and then lacquer it. Replace the action rail cloth with 200 grit wet/dry paper.
I doubt that a '62 Steinway would need the doweling replaced but I would give thought to replacing the back rail cloth, if only because it's more likely than any other part to trap the odor. If the urine got onto the action frame, how could it not end up on the back rail cloth?
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Cecil Snyder
Torrance CA
310-542-7108
Original Message:
Sent: 01-16-2018 08:46
From: John Formsma
Subject: How to Clean This?
I agree also.
Tell the customer to budget extra for unanticipated stuff also.
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John Formsma, RPT
New Albany MS
Original Message:
Sent: 01-16-2018 08:41
From: Peter Grey
Subject: How to Clean This?
I agree with James.
Pwg
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Peter Grey
Stratham NH
603-686-2395
pianodoctor57@gmail.com
Original Message:
Sent: 01-16-2018 08:32
From: James Kelly
Subject: How to Clean This?
It might be wise to purchase a urine detection kit that uses a black light to track down the urine. Most likely it will be in places all over the piano due to migration. Pee in felt of any kind will be giving off odor for a long time. Check the key frame and keybed plus back action, flanges, key end felt. Assume nothing.
I had a piano here on which the cats peed all over the pedals and pedal felts. It was an upright but the liquid got into the bottom board.
I think I wold send the frame out to get it done by Jim and concentrate on the rest of the piano. This could be the piano from hell
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James Kelly
Pawleys Island SC
843-325-4357
Original Message:
Sent: 01-15-2018 13:52
From: Benjamin Sanchez
Subject: How to Clean This?
Hello All,
Just wondering if you have any suggestions as to how to clean this action frame? (See attached pictures)
Now the background: the subject is a Steinway B, 1962, whose owner let the cat urinate all over the insides. They turned a blind eye for years because they were afraid that their last tuner was a psychopath. (Why didn't they call someone else earlier? Who knows?)
Anyway, they called me last month, and we began work this month. Before I begin to clean, I was wondering if you had some suggestions as to what to use to clean off cat-urine-caused corrosion?
For the record, this is the least of the damage. All the action parts have to be completely replaced, and I won't even mention the strings and dampers. The soundboard also has to be refinished. Thankfully the keys only had surface stains, and the keyboard felts are surprisingly still good. The only reason I'm not replacing the action frame is because I'm afraid it might change the action geometry. Which leads me back to: any ideas for cleaning it?
Thanks in advance,
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Benjamin Sanchez
Professional Piano Services
(805)315-8050
www.professional-piano-services.com
BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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