Tips for cleaning lacquer finish (on a piano)??

[Sparkly]

Hi all!! Hoping some of you can give me advice on caring for my piano's lacquer finish.

It's a 1924 mahogany Mason & Hamlin that was rebuilt and refinished almost 25 years ago. The technician restored the wood with a beautifully shiny -- but terribly sensitive! -- lacquer finish. ("Twenty coats of French lacquer!" I remember my Mom saying, whatever that means!)

I teach lessons on it, and over the years it's gotten plenty of little nicks, dings, chips, and even a bitemark! (Don't ask!!) I assume there's nothing I can do about those...

But it's also gotten some grime in certain areas that I'd really like to clean off. The early advice from the restorer was to use only a dry cloth ("Wipe lightly and only in one direction!"); when pressed, he said a little water if absolutely necessary. A piano tuner some years ago recommended Guardsman furniture cleaner, which I have used, but it only does so much.

I notice Steinway has some products, but not sure if my piano's finish is the same as theirs, and the idea of "luxuriously rich emollients" sounds risky... http://www.steinwayfurniturecare.com/furniture_care.cfm

Any advice?? Thanks in advance! :hi:

[NMDemDist2]

1. I had custom black laquer cabinets in my bathroom once--I feel your pain

I can't imagine on a piano used for lessons! I googled around and they all said about the same thing...



To do wood furniture cleaning on a lacquer piece remember lacquer is hard and glossy but is also brittle so it may be dented or chipped. Avoid hard blows. Avoid use of water unless furniture label recommends it. The newer synthetic lacquers are more durable, however older lacquered pieces and many imports have finishes affected by some solvents, so test every product first on an inconspicuous area.

Regularly you will want to dust with a soft, dry cloth. Never use oiled or treated cloths on lacquered finishes. Some finishes can be wiped with a damp (not wet) cloth, followed at once by rubbing with a dry cloth, (test first in inconspicuous spot) to remove fingerprints and smudges. A solvent-based furniture cleaner may be useable on many finishes but always test first. Apply liquid wax on occasion to maintain a gloss,

When heavy cleaning is called for use a solvent base furniture cleaner. Apply with soft cloth in one hand, and wipe at once with soft cloth in other hand, doing only a small area at a time. An oil soap may be satisfactory on some finishes but test first to be sure it is OK with finish. Protect with liquid wax or polish to maintain a gloss.

A solvent based cleaner might be tricky as it actually may remove the top layer of the lacquer itself. it may work awesome or just make it worse. I'd ask the guys at my local cabinet shop and see what they think. good luck!

[TygrBright]

2. Listen to the restorer...

...and do the best you can with the dry cloth or at most a slightly damp cloth. Pianos should look lived with and happy, not like stage props. As long as it's dust free and well-maintained, you're doing it proud. A grand old dame like a '24 M&H will provide beautiful music for generations, she merits your respect and transcends --nay, glories in-- the mere surface accretions that testify to her relationship with you and your family.

woo. That was some hyperbolicness, wazzent it? Wonder whom I'm-a channeling tonight...

befuddledly,
Bright

[Stinky The Clown]

3. I'm with you, Bright. I love that old Mason and Hamlin's look.

The scars just add to the piano. They tell the story of all the eager and earnest young hands that touched it under Sparkly's tutelege and care. The finish alone is a quarter century old. The piano itself has seen four score and two years ....... and provided daily love, joy, and beauty. Its beautful curved flank was steam bent from a single piece of mahogony. Its lid is but three pieces, joind for the ages. Such wood hasn't existed for half a century.

It is a work of art, even when silent. Which it never is. When not teaching young people the joy of music, its keys are so artfully and skillfully caressed by a wonderfully talented woman.

What more need be asked of it?

[nedbal]

4. French lacquer (french polish) is the highest form of applying shellac

If it is shellac then it can be re flowed by applying denatured alcohol. use a fine paint (artists?) brush on an hidden spot TEST TRY A SPOT

you will loose the french polish on the spot