The Piano
Works
John and Carol Bailey
217 West Front Street
P.O. Box 568
Pemberville, OH 43450
419-287-4848
877-287-4848
Serving Toledo and Northwest Ohio
since 1980
THE REFINISHING PROCESS
We begin by completely dismantling the piano
and hand stripping each piece individually. After it is stripped of
all old finish, we wash the wood to remove any residue left from the
stripping process.
If your piano is finished in a natural wood color, parts are bleached
to even the color. Many times a piano is sun bleached and this process
allows us to correct that problem and start with a completely even colored
surface. No splotchy wood here!
Next any imperfections, such as veneer damage, are fixed and the finishing
begins in earnest. The natural finished piano is now dyed, not stained.
We use aniline dyes, much like Old World craftsmen did for two reasons.
First, dyes are much more colorfast because they penetrate the wood
fibers. Stains just sits on top of the wood and tend to fade. Secondly,
dyes give the wood a depth of color and a richness that can't be found
in a regular stain. Once the dye is applied then we give the entire
case a coat of sanding sealer to lock the color in.
At this point the ebony and the naturally finished pianos meet up and
both finish styles get paste filled. This process is similar to spreading
mud! The paste filler fills the pores on both finish styles, but on
the natural finish, it adds darkness to the pores creating a three-dimensional
effect.
Once dry, sanding sealer is again applied, this time 4 or 5 coats, and
we sand out the entire instrument. Next comes the lacquer applied one
layer at a time, until we determine that the piano has sufficient lacquer
on it. This usually amounts to 9 or 10 coats. If you choose to have
a no rub finish, then at this time we would assemble your piano. If,
however, you choose to get your instrument hand-rubbed, we begin a nine
step process to achieve the desired result, a perfectly smooth, glass
like finish. After finishing the task of the rubout, the assembly begins.
By now all the hardware has been either polished or replated and is
placed back on the piano. All the felt that acts as a cushion or as
decoration is replaced. And of course, a new decal goes on during the
finishing process.
