 |
Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums
Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments.
Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
|
|
|
|
70 members (brennbaer, Bellyman, Barly, 1957, btcomm, Animisha, bobrunyan, 14 invisible),
1,996
guests, and
343
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12
Junior Member
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12 |
The Mahogany Monster is beginning to feel its age (it's a mahogany 1914 Mason & Hamlin BB). I found my rebuilder (James Reeder), but moving costs are the problem. The Monster resides on the 3rd floor of a building surrounded by bushes, utility wires and fences, and must be moved out a window via a scaffold (very expensive!). To save on moving costs, we would like to find a piano almost like mine - ready for rebuilding, from the 19teens, that was originally mahogany - and rebuild that. Then, in a single operation my piano can be moved out to go to Mr. Reeder to rebuild and sell, and the rebuilt one can be moved in. Does anyone out there know of such a piano for sale?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 99
Full Member
|
|
Full Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 99 |
http://www.familypianoco.com Call Alice at Family Piano in Waukegan.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12
Junior Member
|
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12 |
Thanks for the suggestion, Lisa. Among the many interesting pianos she does have, there are no M & H BB's, but she's going to keep her eye out for one.
Melissa
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12
Junior Member
|
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12 |
So after all this fuss, I was out in the back yard and noticed the neighbor's back porch stairway was perfect for piano moving. The neighbor agreed to let me move my Monster out through his condo, a straight shot across the hall from mine. I think we will be starting the rebuild within a couple of weeks.
Thanks, everyone, for your replies.
Newest problem: the Monster's sublime mahogany veneer is a little scratched up here and there, but generally in fairly good shape. I would like to have it refinished as long as the piano's being taken apart, but don't like polyester, polyurethane or modern lacquers. I like the look of oil finishes, but the rebuilder says they're not very attractive on mahogany. I've never seen an oil finish on mahogany. What do you think?
Shellac might be a good choice. Does anyone know if it is possible for a shellac finish to be only somewhat shiny? The rebuilder says it would cost twice as much as a lacquer finish. He has mentioned 7K for refinishing with lacquer. Is it really an extra $7,000 worth of work to apply the extra coats shellac requires?
Melissa
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 32,060
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
|
|
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 32,060 |
I think that you should look at samples of the various finishes the refinisher offers, and choose what you like the best. After all, do you really want someone trying out new techniques on your piano?
Semipro Tech
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,272
6000 Post Club Member
|
|
6000 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,272 |
Yes, it's possible to make shellac only somewhat shiny. I've done it on an oak floor. That was at three coats, it would have taken a couple more to get it shiny, because the old wood was so dry. Shellac is much better protection for the wood than oil is. Shellac is no longer legal here because it requires evaporation of alcohol. All non-water based coatings are banned.
-- J.S. ![[Linked Image]](https://www.pianoworld.com/forum/gallery/42/thumbs/7588.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](https://www.pianoworld.com/forum/gallery/42/thumbs/7589.jpg) Knabe Grand # 10927 Yamaha CP33 Kawai FS690
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 515
500 Post Club Member
|
|
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 515 |
So after all this fuss, I was out in the back yard and noticed the neighbor's back porch stairway was perfect for piano moving. The neighbor agreed to let me move my Monster out through his condo, a straight shot across the hall from mine. I think we will be starting the rebuild within a couple of weeks.
Thanks, everyone, for your replies.
Newest problem: the Monster's sublime mahogany veneer is a little scratched up here and there, but generally in fairly good shape. I would like to have it refinished as long as the piano's being taken apart, but don't like polyester, polyurethane or modern lacquers. I like the look of oil finishes, but the rebuilder says they're not very attractive on mahogany. I've never seen an oil finish on mahogany. What do you think?
Shellac might be a good choice. Does anyone know if it is possible for a shellac finish to be only somewhat shiny? The rebuilder says it would cost twice as much as a lacquer finish. He has mentioned 7K for refinishing with lacquer. Is it really an extra $7,000 worth of work to apply the extra coats shellac requires?
Melissa try to find someone who does French Polishing. This is a nice finish and really highlight the grain, nice 3-d effect. Depending on the amount apply determent the sheen.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12
Junior Member
|
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 12 |
Yes, it's possible to make shellac only somewhat shiny. I've done it on an oak floor. That was at three coats, it would have taken a couple more to get it shiny, because the old wood was so dry. Shellac is much better protection for the wood than oil is. Shellac is no longer legal here because it requires evaporation of alcohol. All non-water based coatings are banned.
I have seen photographs of French polished pianos: they are quite beautiful, though a little shinier than the rest of my furniture. I would be happy with a French polish (shellac) finish, but not for an extra $7,000. Do you know if the ban applies to California only (which has always had stricter occupational and environmental regulations than most other states) or is it nationwide? Another issue occurred to me. The tops of the dampers are as beautiful as the rest of the piano - I think they're mahogany too. Are these retained in a rebuilding, or can they be? I was planning to get the new composite action offered by Mason Hamlin. Melissa
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,272
6000 Post Club Member
|
|
6000 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,272 |
It's not even all of California. It's the Southern California air quality management district, one of the biggest of about 5000 special districts and agencies we have here for various things. Other regions have different rules.
-- J.S. Knabe Grand # 10927 Yamaha CP33 Kawai FS690
|
|
|
|
Forums43
Topics223,386
Posts3,349,204
Members111,631
| |
Most Online15,252
Mar 21st, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
