Pianotech

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

I'm guessing contact cement. I would apply some lacquer thinner to a discreet part of the cabinet, if it doesn't harm the finish I would try that. Or possibly acetone. Polyester resin is pretty tough stuff.

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

Unless the lettering is tarnished and unsightly, I wonder why they would want the emblem to go away.  Whatever.. 

Removing the brass letters from the polyester will likely tear out chunks of polyester and look horrible.  The brass letters have an adhesive backing, and are applied before the finish is made.  Later after finishing, the area is sanded to reveal the letters again, and polished.  Thus they are embedded in the polyester.  Any attempt to remove them will likely tear out a lot of poly.   If you remove the letters, you'll need to prepare the area for applying polyester and fill in where the letters were.  If the finish is black, it's do-able.  If no,t you'd have to do a lacquer-type of repair, as polyester is hard to match with a wood finish.  If it's white, better to find a refinishing shop to shoot a matching paint over the whole case.  Another idea is to make a plaque, engraved with the name of the donor, and apply it over the Kawai lettering, or get a piece of black plexiglass and cover the area or maybe drape a nice embroidered cloth over the side to cover it.

Good luck.

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

Scott,

From your description I visualize a solid rectangular piece of brass attached rather than embedded in the finish. My first choice would be heat applied gradually. In fact I think that is your only choice. Of course cleaning up the adhesive remnants afterwards would be another task. However, Ethyl Acetate can be a big help in that regard if Goo-be-gone doesn't cut the mustard. 😉 

Have fun. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Unless the lettering is tarnished and unsightly, I wonder why they would want the emblem to go away.  Whatever.. 

Removing the brass letters from the polyester will likely tear out chunks of polyester and look horrible.  The brass letters have an adhesive backing, and are applied before the finish is made.  Later after finishing, the area is sanded to reveal the letters again, and polished.  Thus they are embedded in the polyester.  Any attempt to remove them will likely tear out a lot of poly.   If you remove the letters, you'll need to prepare the area for applying polyester and fill in where the letters were.  If the finish is black, it's do-able.  If no,t you'd have to do a lacquer-type of repair, as polyester is hard to match with a wood finish.  If it's white, better to find a refinishing shop to shoot a matching paint over the whole case.  Another idea is to make a plaque, engraved with the name of the donor, and apply it over the Kawai lettering, or get a piece of black plexiglass and cover the area or maybe drape a nice embroidered cloth over the side to cover it.

Good luck.

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

I would call a dentist. 😉

Scott,

From your description I visualize a solid rectangular piece of brass attached rather than embedded in the finish. My first choice would be heat applied gradually. In fact I think that is your only choice. Of course cleaning up the adhesive remnants afterwards would be another task. However, Ethyl Acetate can be a big help in that regard if Goo-be-gone doesn't cut the mustard. 😉 

Have fun. 

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

Unless the lettering is tarnished and unsightly, I wonder why they would want the emblem to go away.  Whatever.. 

Removing the brass letters from the polyester will likely tear out chunks of polyester and look horrible.  The brass letters have an adhesive backing, and are applied before the finish is made.  Later after finishing, the area is sanded to reveal the letters again, and polished.  Thus they are embedded in the polyester.  Any attempt to remove them will likely tear out a lot of poly.   If you remove the letters, you'll need to prepare the area for applying polyester and fill in where the letters were.  If the finish is black, it's do-able.  If no,t you'd have to do a lacquer-type of repair, as polyester is hard to match with a wood finish.  If it's white, better to find a refinishing shop to shoot a matching paint over the whole case.  Another idea is to make a plaque, engraved with the name of the donor, and apply it over the Kawai lettering, or get a piece of black plexiglass and cover the area or maybe drape a nice embroidered cloth over the side to cover it.

Good luck.

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

If it was a plaque to memorialize someone or a donors name plaque get a new one made at a trophy shop. If it was glued on beware since the glue may have damaged the finish. I say tell them it can't be removed without damaging the finish . If you or they decide it has to come off experiment in places that are not visible like in side a leg

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

If they don't want a name associated with it, how about just a straight blank brass piece, same size as the one there and glue it on top?

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

If it was a plaque to memorialize someone or a donors name plaque get a new one made at a trophy shop. If it was glued on beware since the glue may have damaged the finish. I say tell them it can't be removed without damaging the finish . If you or they decide it has to come off experiment in places that are not visible like in side a leg

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

If they don't want a name associated with it, how about just a straight blank brass piece, same size as the one there and glue it on top?

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

If it was a plaque to memorialize someone or a donors name plaque get a new one made at a trophy shop. If it was glued on beware since the glue may have damaged the finish. I say tell them it can't be removed without damaging the finish . If you or they decide it has to come off experiment in places that are not visible like in side a leg

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!

 " I have a feeling they will attempt to deal with themselves rather than hire someone. They've already decided they would rather move the piano off a dolly   themselves and install casters rather than have me do it."

Scott, yes, I would give them a wide berth. 

If they don't want a name associated with it, how about just a straight blank brass piece, same size as the one there and glue it on top?

Peter Grey Piano Doctor 

If it was a plaque to memorialize someone or a donors name plaque get a new one made at a trophy shop. If it was glued on beware since the glue may have damaged the finish. I say tell them it can't be removed without damaging the finish . If you or they decide it has to come off experiment in places that are not visible like in side a leg

Greetings all and Happy New Year,

I have a church with a recently donated grand, a 1964 Kawai GS-70 with polyester finish. They'd like to remove a plaque that faces the audience, so I'm looking for ideas on how to proceed (or tell the customer how to proceed.)

Some ideas I've heard involve using heat (heat gun/blow dryer/iron) combined with dental floss to get under a corner. I've told the customer I can't guarantee how the finish will look after removal, or even what type of glue may have been used. I'm assuming that most of these commonly available are plaques are peel & stick? (I've search the archives and found a similar, though unanswered post from years ago.)

thanks!