Pianotech

  • 1.  heavy grease removal?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 15 days ago

    Greetings all,

    I have a customer with a 1967 Yamaha P2. Recently, I noticed the piano's case was especially dirty, and I grabbed some rags to clean it. I had an unpleasant surprise, though: the piano was covered with some kind of very thick grease, impossible to just wipe away. I wasn't sure what the coating was, but due to the proximity to the kitchen, I think it's probably aerosolized cooking grease.

    The piano does NOT have a polyester finish--any suggestions on what to use that will safely cut through this gunk without harming the finish? Something I can suggest to the customer to use?

    thanks!



    ------------------------------
    Scott Cole, RPT
    rvpianotuner.com
    Talent, OR
    (541-601-9033
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: heavy grease removal?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 15 days ago

    This is a tricky one.  It is likely a lacquered or shellac finish, and that old the finish is probably deteriorated.  I would advise not to use a water-based cleaner.  I would suggest some type of paint thinner or benzine, tested on a small area.  You can get grease cutters in a hardware store or restaurant supply, but most are water-based for doing floors or dishes.  Again, you can try anything on a small spot, but on a piano that old, all bets are off.  Proceed with caution.



    ------------------------------
    Paul McCloud, RPT
    Accutone Piano Service
    www.AccutonePianoService.com
    pavadasa@gmail.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: heavy grease removal?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 15 days ago
    Paul,
    Thanks for your response. However, I don't think it's a case of a deteriorating finish. Not only were there clear, clean areas underneath stacks of music, but the gunk was on the keys as well, and worse at the margins where they are less likely to be played. It's also an acute issue--wasn't there last year.


    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: heavy grease removal?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 15 days ago
    Scott

    Even though it was made in 1967, and even though it's a satin finish, it could still have a polyester finish. I would try grease emulsifier from the hardware store on a small section and see it that will do the work. Otherwise, try Naphtha. 



    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: heavy grease removal?

    Posted 14 days ago
    Hi Scott,

    I use Dirtex by Savogran to wash any piece of furniture I am working on. It's close to sudless and removes dirt and grease from the finish or what's left of the finish. And that is the point, finding what shape the finish is in. The finish is the protection/window to what is below it.

    Using 0000 steel wool, ring the wool out and wipe in the direction of the grain. Work on areas the size in which you can immediately wipe clean with paper towels and wipe dry.

    This particular piano your talking about sounds incredibly dirty. I wouldn't even suggest to the customer taking this on. 

    Cleaning a piano this way is a lot of work. 
    This best left to a professional furniture restorer.

    Unrelated tip for using this washing method:

    I use this method to clean key frames when rebuilding grand actions. Because the frames are usually unfinished, after wiping away the loose dirt with paper towels I also hit the area with a hair drier. 

    When I first tried this I thought the water/Dirtex solution would soak into the unfinished oak frames. But drying it with the hair dryer revealed very little penetration into the cells of the wood.




    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: heavy grease removal?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 14 days ago

    Or Dawn. Darn good grease cutter. 

    Peter Grey Piano Doctor 



    ------------------------------
    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    (603) 686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: heavy grease removal?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 13 days ago

    Some years ago I used to service a Yamaha G2 that was set up in the food court at a local mall.  In an access of tidiness the cleaning crew used Pledge or some other wax on it.  This is not that uncommon since the popular wisdom for polishing pianos seems to have a 30 or 40 year time lag.  What a smeary stubborn mess.  You're lucky if it's grease you have to contend with; a bit of dish detergent or TSP will do the trick.  I tried paint thinner and naptha and alcohol on the wax.  The only thing I found that seemed to cut through it was turpentine.  Unfortunately it's stinky stuff.  What took them a few minutes to "wax on" on took me over an hour to "wax off."



    ------------------------------
    Cecil Snyder RPT
    Torrance CA
    (310) 542-7108
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: heavy grease removal?

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10 days ago

    I use Cory Coconut Wood Cleaner for this exact purpose. It still takes a fair amount of elbow grease, but it should be safe for the finish.



    ------------------------------
    Peter Stevenson RPT
    P.S. Piano Service
    Prince George BC
    (250) 562-5358
    ps@pspianos.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: heavy grease removal?

    Member
    Posted 6 days ago

    There is a wax remover product by Behlen plus some of the Cory products may work Someone may have used fryers or oils in the nearby kitchen  Murphys oil soap on a damp cloth may get the grime off the keys



    ------------------------------
    James Kelly
    Owner- Fur Elise Piano Service
    Pawleys Island SC
    (843) 325-4357
    ------------------------------

    Original Message