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sharpie removal from ivory keys

  • 1.  sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Member
    Posted 10-08-2020 21:36
    Hello all,

    A customer asked me this morning about her sister's piano in California (I live in Atlanta).  Her son marked on ivory keys with a sharpie.  She asked me how to remove it.  I thought I would put the question before the forum and see if I can get some advice because I have never encountered that specific situation.

    Thanks in advance!

    Cary

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    Cary Thrift
    Marietta GA
    770-517-9871
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  • 2.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-08-2020 21:56
    Hi Cary:
    I'm sure you'll get some very good replies. Since ivory is porous, I would not use a solvent, since it may dissolve and drive the ink deeper. I would use a cleanser like Bon Ami, or perhaps Flitz, sand it off, or otherwise use some abrasive to remove the ink.
    Good luck.
    Paul McCloud


    Cary Thrift
    Hello all,

    A customer asked me this morning about her sister's piano in California (I live in Atlanta). Her son marked on ivory keys with a sharpie. She asked me how to remove it. I thought I would put the question before the forum and see if I can get some advice because I have never encountered that specific situation.

    Thanks in advance!

    Cary

    ------------------------------
    Cary Thrift
    Marietta GA
    770-517-9871



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-08-2020 22:20
    Make sure it's ivory and not plastic

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    Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
    Mililani, HI 96789
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-09-2020 02:01
    Alcohol will usually remove Sharpie ink, but if it has etched into the material (even plastic) then it might need more than just cleaning.
    You might suggest experimenting with a paste of a cleanser (Comet, Ajax, or as others have suggested Bon Ami, which is milder).
    600 grit Wet or Dry might be a last resort.
    I would bow before those with experience in this.  Most of my customers used tape.

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    Blaine Hebert
    Duarte CA
    626-795-5170
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Member
    Posted 10-09-2020 08:15
    Try Flitz followed by Mr. Clean Magic Eraser if needed.  Will require polishing after. Doesn't always get it all due to various brand markers, time, usage after marking, etc.  Best done by a capable tech.

    Deb






    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-09-2020 12:21
    I have had some success with Naptha, which will also remove sticky substances without harming finish or glue joints.  It may take a few passes. I second the suggestion for trying Flitz or a 3M case polish but only where the label shows the polish is non-toxic or removed/cleaned following use. With Flitz you don't have to worry about toxicity. 


    Good luck, let us know how it goes

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    Elizabeth Pearson
    Gaithersburg MD
    240-751-5900
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Posted 10-09-2020 12:47
    Has anyone considered a whitening toothpaste?

    Best wishes

    David P

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    David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
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    +44 1342 850594



    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Posted 10-09-2020 15:23
    Acetone if they are ivory.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Posted 10-09-2020 15:54
    Unless you've had experience with acetone I'd be extremely wary. I spilt some CA in a cutlery box with knives and forks with bone or ivory handles. I tried acetone to remove the CA and it started degrading the handles.

    Best wishes

    David P
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    David Pinnegar, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    +44 1342 850594



    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Posted 10-09-2020 18:41
    David, I suspect the items were an old version of cellulose, plastic. Many items back 100 years or so ago were made with the new fangled material. I know, what I thought was ivory, wasn't.  Acetone does not affect genuine ivory.

    One way to tell ivory from plastic is to look closely at the end, ivory has pores (tubular), plastic is solid. Magnification required.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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  • 11.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Posted 10-09-2020 18:45
    Either end of the length of the ivory.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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    Original Message


  • 12.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-09-2020 19:34
    You can get fingernail polish remover that does not have acetone from Walgreens, CVS, Etc. It works very well on things like Sharpie.



    Sheffey Gregory, RPT
    Gregory's Piano Service 
    Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7




    Original Message


  • 13.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-09-2020 19:45
    Shelley,

    Do you know what the solvent is in the non-acetone nail polish remover?

    Alan

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    Alan Eder, RPT
    Herb Alpert School of Music
    California Institute of the Arts
    Valencia, CA
    661.904.6483
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    Original Message


  • 14.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Member
    Posted 10-09-2020 20:47
    Thank you all for your suggestions! I have forwarded this info to my customer and I am keeping these ideas in my Keep Notes for future reference.

    Thanks again!




    Original Message


  • 15.  RE: sharpie removal from ivory keys

    Posted 10-10-2020 10:55
    Be careful using acetone on keys in the piano. You don't want to damage the finish. Also the sharps, whether they are plastic or have some type of finish on wood.

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    Regards,

    Jon Page
    mailto:jonpage@comcast.net
    http://www.pianocapecod.com
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    Original Message