Pianotech

Hi gang,

I recently found that someone used the piano lid as a writing surface to make some sort of musical notation.  Writing on a piece of paper with a sharpie, which bled through the paper.  Any ideas about how to clean this up?  It's a lacquer finish.

Thanks!

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Zeno Wood
Brooklyn, NY
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I usually use very fine pumice powder with a large wetted foam sponge to rub out a satin finish like this.  I'll bet that would easily take off these marks.  I doubt mineral spirits/benzene will remove them, but you could try.  Don't use anything stronger than that.

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Paul McCloud, RPT
Accutone Piano Service
www.AccutonePianoService.com
pavadasa@gmail.com
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0000 steel wool and water. 

You'll have to set aside enough time to deal with the entire lid. Go with the grain using light pressure all the way to the end of the lid and be careful not to cut through the finish. 

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Daniel DeBiasio
Technical Education & Support
ddebiasio@steinway.com
718-267-3229
Steinway & Sons
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I can't speak to how it would affect the lacquer, but on some surfaces sharpie can be removed by coloring over it with a dry erase marker, letting that dry and then wiping it off. When you take off the dry erase marker it takes the sharpie with it. But like I said, not sure what that would do on lacquer. 

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Trevor Penner
Hillsboro KS
(620) 877-0306
music2himalone@gmail.com
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The ink on standard Sharpies is soluable in alcohol.  If the alcohol doesn't damage the finish (it will dissolve shellac finishes) it should remove the ink easily.

Proceed carefully.

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Blaine Hebert RPT
Duarte CA
(626) 390-0512
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