Pianotech

Greetings all,

a customer called me and wanted to know if there's anything that can be done to remove the build-up of pledge products that were used for many years to clean the piano. 
It has left a milky/hazy residue.
The piano is an Essex upright with a polyester finish.
Thank you,
Peter
Janssen Piano Services

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Petrus Janssen
Peachtree City GA
(678) 416-8055
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Behlen has a number of products that can be used for wax removal however I suggest you contact Allied to see what is best . Because it is an Essex it will probably be wise to talk to someone at S&S. Good idea to have a serial number and model as well as model year. Finish formulas change . Pledge is like WD40 it should be banned for use on pianos.  I had a customer with a Boston that tried to refinish the music desk because the finish wore of from contact with hand oils and perspiration. They tried to claim it was a warranty issue but I found evidence they tried a home made fix. My finish guy had to completely strip the music desk and refinish it. They cried all the way to the bank.

the milky/haze may mean the pledge and rubbing got through the surface sort of like a water ring

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

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-12-2022 23:34
From: James Kelly
Subject: Pledge built up

Behlen has a number of products that can be used for wax removal however I suggest you contact Allied to see what is best . Because it is an Essex it will probably be wise to talk to someone at S&S. Good idea to have a serial number and model as well as model year. Finish formulas change . Pledge is like WD40 it should be banned for use on pianos.  I had a customer with a Boston that tried to refinish the music desk because the finish wore of from contact with hand oils and perspiration. They tried to claim it was a warranty issue but I found evidence they tried a home made fix. My finish guy had to completely strip the music desk and refinish it. They cried all the way to the bank.

the milky/haze may mean the pledge and rubbing got through the surface sort of like a water ring

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10/13/2022 11:42:00 AM
From: Cecil Snyder
Subject: RE: Pledge built up

Try turpentine.

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

I'm curious, how does one strip a polyester finish?

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Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2022 12:53
From: Paul Williams
Subject: Pledge built up

Ive had luck with mineral spirits that I learned from Mike Reiter.

Paul

 

Original Message:
Sent: 10/13/2022 11:42:00 AM
From: Cecil Snyder
Subject: RE: Pledge built up

Try turpentine.

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


Original Message:
Sent: 10-12-2022 23:34
From: James Kelly
Subject: Pledge built up

Behlen has a number of products that can be used for wax removal however I suggest you contact Allied to see what is best . Because it is an Essex it will probably be wise to talk to someone at S&S. Good idea to have a serial number and model as well as model year. Finish formulas change . Pledge is like WD40 it should be banned for use on pianos.  I had a customer with a Boston that tried to refinish the music desk because the finish wore of from contact with hand oils and perspiration. They tried to claim it was a warranty issue but I found evidence they tried a home made fix. My finish guy had to completely strip the music desk and refinish it. They cried all the way to the bank.

the milky/haze may mean the pledge and rubbing got through the surface sort of like a water ring

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

The Boston piano I mentioned had a satin finish that was not polyester however the owners husband attempted to sand down the problem are and tried using black paint making a big mess. To remove polyester for repair work like cracks and gouges you need to grind away the damaged area. Complete stripping of the finish is quite involved . Caliveri in New York does this for cases, lids, legs etc.

I have to look at my notes on poly repair but I believe it is either naptha or acetone that can be used for cleaner . Getting pledge and waxy buildup off with mineral spirits looks like it works according to Paul  but I have not tried it. I did have some success using a Behlen dewaxer on a black hi gloss Yamaha lid. Some genius at a wedding reception in a local country club thought the lid was a great place to put a candlebra on. The drippings got all over the lid. Fortunately the maintenance crew didnt try scrapers or brillo pads

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2022 15:53
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Pledge built up

I'm curious, how does one strip a polyester finish?

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2022 12:53
From: Paul Williams
Subject: Pledge built up

Ive had luck with mineral spirits that I learned from Mike Reiter.

Paul

 

Original Message:
Sent: 10/13/2022 11:42:00 AM
From: Cecil Snyder
Subject: RE: Pledge built up

Try turpentine.

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


Original Message:
Sent: 10-12-2022 23:34
From: James Kelly
Subject: Pledge built up

Behlen has a number of products that can be used for wax removal however I suggest you contact Allied to see what is best . Because it is an Essex it will probably be wise to talk to someone at S&S. Good idea to have a serial number and model as well as model year. Finish formulas change . Pledge is like WD40 it should be banned for use on pianos.  I had a customer with a Boston that tried to refinish the music desk because the finish wore of from contact with hand oils and perspiration. They tried to claim it was a warranty issue but I found evidence they tried a home made fix. My finish guy had to completely strip the music desk and refinish it. They cried all the way to the bank.

the milky/haze may mean the pledge and rubbing got through the surface sort of like a water ring

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

I'm not aware of anything that will dissolve the finish.  I've heard of heating it with a gun and scraping it off, but never tried.  The normal off-the-shelf strippers won't remove it, though it might make it look dull.  Add some polish and it's good as new.  I'm all ears if someone can correct me.

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

Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2022 15:53
From: Steven Rosenthal
Subject: Pledge built up

I'm curious, how does one strip a polyester finish?

------------------------------
Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2022 12:53
From: Paul Williams
Subject: Pledge built up

Ive had luck with mineral spirits that I learned from Mike Reiter.

Paul

 

Original Message:
Sent: 10/13/2022 11:42:00 AM
From: Cecil Snyder
Subject: RE: Pledge built up

Try turpentine.

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


Original Message:
Sent: 10-12-2022 23:34
From: James Kelly
Subject: Pledge built up

Behlen has a number of products that can be used for wax removal however I suggest you contact Allied to see what is best . Because it is an Essex it will probably be wise to talk to someone at S&S. Good idea to have a serial number and model as well as model year. Finish formulas change . Pledge is like WD40 it should be banned for use on pianos.  I had a customer with a Boston that tried to refinish the music desk because the finish wore of from contact with hand oils and perspiration. They tried to claim it was a warranty issue but I found evidence they tried a home made fix. My finish guy had to completely strip the music desk and refinish it. They cried all the way to the bank.

the milky/haze may mean the pledge and rubbing got through the surface sort of like a water ring

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

Turpentine should work.
In California we have lost many of our solvents like paint thinner and naptha due to its polluting qualities.
But we can still buy charcoal starter, which is similar enough to paint thinner and I have been using that as a useful solvent.
Alcohol might work, but the risk to a shellac finish is too great, paint thinner or "charcoal starter" is probably safer (though smellier).
You could also try just another application of Pledge as it might dissolve enough of the old residue to work as a cleaner.
WD-40 might work too, or Goof-Off.
You also might want to just try a simple cleaning agent (I use Spic n Span) and some elbow grease.

------------------------------
Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 795-5170
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10/14/2022 1:03:00 AM
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: RE: Pledge built up

Turpentine should work.
In California we have lost many of our solvents like paint thinner and naptha due to its polluting qualities.
But we can still buy charcoal starter, which is similar enough to paint thinner and I have been using that as a useful solvent.
Alcohol might work, but the risk to a shellac finish is too great, paint thinner or "charcoal starter" is probably safer (though smellier).
You could also try just another application of Pledge as it might dissolve enough of the old residue to work as a cleaner.
WD-40 might work too, or Goof-Off.
You also might want to just try a simple cleaning agent (I use Spic n Span) and some elbow grease.

------------------------------
Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 795-5170
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10/14/2022 1:03:00 AM
From: Blaine Hebert
Subject: RE: Pledge built up

Turpentine should work.
In California we have lost many of our solvents like paint thinner and naptha due to its polluting qualities.
But we can still buy charcoal starter, which is similar enough to paint thinner and I have been using that as a useful solvent.
Alcohol might work, but the risk to a shellac finish is too great, paint thinner or "charcoal starter" is probably safer (though smellier).
You could also try just another application of Pledge as it might dissolve enough of the old residue to work as a cleaner.
WD-40 might work too, or Goof-Off.
You also might want to just try a simple cleaning agent (I use Spic n Span) and some elbow grease.

------------------------------
Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 795-5170
------------------------------