Hammer Lacquer Removal

[Regi Hedahl]

The hammers on this mid 80's Baldwin are full of lacquer. I soaked them in lacquer thinner and have blowed each one of them out with high pressure about 10 times so far. The hammers have puffed up some (which is a good thing IMO) but the lacquer staining is still there. I'm assuming the stain means the lacquer is still in the hammers.  Should I be using something else to remove the lacquer?

Regi

[Joseph Garrett]

YES!

Regi,

I'm so glad you asked. I went through a whole process to a Baldwin grand as well.

I first tried Industrial grade lacquer thinner = pretty much no effect.

Then I doused the hammers with Acetone = pretty much little if any effect.

THEN, I got some MEK (Methyl Ethyl Keytone. Doused the hammers = some effect. Long story short, I douse the hammers every hour for 24 hours. ( I know I'm nuts!), That did the trick! Most of the lacquer was flushed into the lower shoulders where it belongs. I now had a set of hammers that would allow me to actually needle them. To put it another way. I tested with needles through that whole process. At the beginning, I could barely get a single needle in about 1/32" before it hit the wall of lacquer. I tested with the needle through the whole process until at the last I could ge the needle in about 3/8".  I used about a 1/2 gallon of MEK.

I would caution you that MEK is really toxic stuff, WEAR a good vapors mask. Do all of the dousing out of doors. I did it all in my 3 sided wood shed. Set the top action up so that I only doused the hammers and nothing else. Set a 1/2 sheet of plywood on my wheel barrow for a bench. The end result was a marked loss of "clang" and a marked improvement on tone production.

Good luck,

Best,
joe

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Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
gpianoworks.com

[tnr...@aol.com]

The stain may be there, but that doesn't mean the lacquer is. 

Have you tried them? I  mean, have you played the piano?  That's the only way to tell for sure if the lacquer is gone. 

Wim

-----Original Message-----
From: Regi Hedahl <piano...@gmail.com>
To: pianotech <pian...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 19, 2020 3:09 pm
Subject: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

[Joseph Garrett]

I've found that if the lacquer is on a recent iteration, say 5 years or less. Lacquer thinner will work somewhat. Acetone, ditto. But, if that lacquer has been in those hammers for more than 5-10 years, the stuff is harder than granite. The whole idea is to get the lacquer to soften and flow down to the other end of the hammer. One clue is if you see lacquer on the tails, then it has accomplished it's travel south. The only thing I've found on those really old B-B's is the MEK. It's nasty stuff, but it really dissolves the lacquer. After my last bout with a Baldwin like Regi's, there was thick coat of lacquer on the tails that I had to sand off! <G> Of course, testing with a single needle as you progress will tell you what has occured imo. AND, if it worked too well and the piano is a bit on the soft side, just get out the heat controlled hammer iron and give them a good medium high heat treatment. It will bring them back up and no need for the dreaded lacquer!<G>

BTW, the lacquer thinner that you buy from places like ACE hardware, is weak stuff. I get mine from my refinisher who still shoots nitrocellulose. It's more than twice as effective imo.

Best,

Joe

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pianotech/370684570.3571879.1597891913284%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Regi Hedahl]

Joe,

Thanks for sharing your findings.  The lacquer has been in these hammers for far longer than 5 years so I will try MEK tomorrow.  Interestingly, these hammers have swelled quite a bit larger with the treatment I did on them today.  I figure this is a good thing as they were far too dense from the get go.

Regi

[Douglas Gregg]

I have done several sets of Steinway hammers that were over-juiced. I soaked the heads on a bucket of acetone for a week with 3 changes of acetone. You can do this by numbering and binding them in groups of 5 and standing them head down in an enamel bucket. Cover the top with plastic wrap. It may or may not take the stain out but it did soften the hammers and I was able to make them sound good with a little Ballistol voicing.

Be aware that Baldwin hammer felt is harder than Steinway felt to start with and it may be hard to get them as soft as Steinway hammers.

This does work!!

Doug Gregg

Sent from my iPad

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[Peter W. Grey, RPT]

If they do not get soft enough try a little VS-Profelt on the strike point. If it does a little and you want more, apply a wider swath again. However, it is quite powerful stuff and you can easily way overdo it if you're not careful. DAMHIK.

I typically start with 1 or 2 drops per string impact line. YMMV...experiment with care.

Peter Grey Piano Doctor

[Joseph Garrett]

Doug,

I hate to say it, but your way is waaaaay to complicated and lengthy compared to my MEK method. The turn around time for mine is two days, maybe three. YMMV

Next time you need to de-lacquer try it and you'll never go back. Also, no need for instilling another foriegn substance either.<G>

Best,

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas Gregg
Sent: Aug 20, 2020 4:27 AM
To: pian...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pianotech/4E4937DB-28F2-49D3-9E7E-C56B66937BD3%40gmail.com.

[Allied PianoCraft]

I agree with Joe, MEK is the strongest an best solvent to break down lacquer.

Al -

High Point, NC

On Aug 20, 2020, at 11:06 AM, Joseph Garrett <joega...@earthlink.net> wrote:



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[Joseph Garrett]

Peter,
I'm of the "no chemicals" school of thought, so I'll pass.
As advertised there is a "lubricating substance", (unspecified), in that stuff. I know many swear by it, whereas I swear at it. <G>
It's intended use is for key bushings that are moderately indented and somewhat loose. I just use steam from a hand held furniture steamer, (Harbor Freight), which works just fine and no added chemicals. I do apply teflon spray to the key pins however. That I know what it is: teflon powder suspended in acetone under air pressure.<G>
Best,
Joe

Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
gpianoworks.com

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Peter W. Grey, RPT" <pianod...@gmail.com>
>Sent: Aug 20, 2020 4:57 AM
>To: pianotech <pian...@googlegroups.com>
>Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal
>

>If they do not get soft enough try a little VS-Profelt on the strike point. If it does a little and you want more, apply a wider swath again. However, it is quite powerful stuff and you can easily way overdo it if you're not careful. DAMHIK.
>
>I typically start with 1 or 2 drops per string impact line. YMMV...experiment with care.
>
>Peter Grey Piano Doctor
>

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[Douglas Gregg]

The nice thing about voicing with Ballistol spray can is that it is impossible to overdo it. You never lose the forte but gain pianissimo and piano. If you don’t like the smell add a drop of Balsam oil to each hammer and it will smell like a Christmas tree.
I just voiced a Kawai from the 70s that had the hardest hammers ever. It took about 5 oz of Ballistol dosed proportionately for the size of the hammers. The owner could not believe the result and it took about 5 minutes.
Doug

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 20, 2020, at 7:57 AM, Peter W. Grey, RPT <pianod...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> If they do not get soft enough try a little VS-Profelt on the strike point. If it does a little and you want more, apply a wider swath again. However, it is quite powerful stuff and you can easily way overdo it if you're not careful. DAMHIK.

>
> I typically start with 1 or 2 drops per string impact line. YMMV...experiment with care.
>
> Peter Grey Piano Doctor
>

[-CARL -TEPLITSKI]

I've been reading about all these ways of changing hardness of hammers for a while.

Nobody mentions where you can get this Ballistol, cause I don't recall ever seeing it

in any supply place in my area that carries it. Maybe I've led too sheltered a life here

in the great white north, of Canada.  So , please enlighten me here , and I suppose

I'll be surprised that it's likely carried by Home Depot or some such.

CT   Winnipeg.

----- Original Message -----
From: Douglas Gregg <class...@gmail.com>
To: pian...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, 21 Aug 2020 08:36:46 -0600 (MDT)
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pianotech/8CCD4B68-195A-4CB0-9D26-0CDF302CE8E5%40gmail.com.

[Joseph Garrett]

Doug,
Let's compare apples to apples. Kawai hammers do not, normally, have lacqer in them. They're just hydraulically pressed and are high density. Steinway and Baldwin piano hammers, traditionally have lacqer in them. Two different issues with two different remedies imo.

Best,
Joe


Captain of the Tool Police
Squares R I
gpianoworks.com


-----Original Message-----

[Joseph Garrett]

It is available from Mother Goose Supply. There are other places like gun shops that may have it, since that was it's original designed use.

Best,

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: -CARL -TEPLITSKI
Sent: Aug 21, 2020 10:02 AM
To: pian...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

I've been reading about all these ways of changing hardness of hammers for a while.

Nobody mentions where you can get this Ballistol, cause I don't recall ever seeing it

in any supply place in my area that carries it. Maybe I've led too sheltered a life here

in the great white north, of Canada.  So , please enlighten me here , and I suppose

I'll be surprised that it's likely carried by Home Depot or some such.

CT   Winnipeg.

----- Original Message -----
From: Douglas Gregg <class...@gmail.com>
To: pian...@googlegroups.com
Sent: Fri, 21 Aug 2020 08:36:46 -0600 (MDT)

Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

The nice thing about voicing with Ballistol spray can is that it is impossible to overdo it. You never lose the forte but gain pianissimo and piano. If you don’t like the smell add a drop of Balsam oil to each hammer and it will smell like a Christmas tree.
I just voiced a Kawai from the 70s that had the hardest hammers ever. It took about 5 oz of Ballistol dosed proportionately for the size of the hammers. The owner could not believe the result and it took about 5 minutes.
Doug

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 20, 2020, at 7:57 AM, Peter W. Grey, RPT <pianod...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> If they do not get soft enough try a little VS-Profelt on the strike point. If it does a little and you want more, apply a wider swath again. However, it is quite powerful stuff and you can easily way overdo it if you're not careful. DAMHIK.
>
> I typically start with 1 or 2 drops per string impact line. YMMV...experiment with care.
>
> Peter Grey Piano Doctor
>
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[Douglas Gregg]

Joe, 

As far as the Baldwin hammers are concerned, they do respond pretty well to Ballistol without lacquer removal. The Kawai, I agree, is just a rock hard hammer but it does respond to Ballistol the same way.  It just takes a lot in both cases. It saves hours of needling. Steinway hammers require less treatment in most cases. 

Ballistol is available from Amazon or on e-bay or gun stores.  It goes for between $9-11 per 6 oz spray can.  The bulk oil does not work as well as the spray can. That is likely due to the solvents for propellant added to the spray can. At least that is my thought. 

I have put Ballistol in the TT&T (tips) in the PTG Journal several years ago. I have voiced at least 400 pianos with it. Results are always good. I treat each section of hammers proportionately using the straw on the spray head. Bass gets 4 passes of about 10 seconds spray. tenor gets 3 passes, 3rd section gets 2 passes and high treble one pass or less. That takes less than 2 minutes. Apply to the strike point and it soaks in.  I occasionally need to give an "angel shot" to a hard hammer in a set. The odd softer ones get 10 hard strikes while holding a mute or finger on the strings. Sometimes I give all the strings that treatment to make the piano a bit brighter. Ballistol never affects the forte, only pianissimo and piano.  It is a fool-proof method with no fear(even the first time). It is impossible to overdo. I have tried.  

Also an unevenly voiced set of hammers comes out quite even after the Ballistol. I don't know why, but it does. I did a Steinway M yesterday in an auditorium. It was very uneven and bright (over-juiced Steinway hammers from the 70s). It sounded great 5 minutes later with very little else but a little chop stick voicing on a couple hammers. They used it today for a recording. 

Sometimes I will do a grand without pulling the action. I bring the hammers up to the strings with my hand or forearm on all the keys and squirt them with the straw. You can also extend the straw with a McDonalds or 7-11 coffee stir straw.  It fits snugly on the Ballistol straw and makes a 10 inch straw. Then it is easy to reach hammers in the resting position. 

Doug Gregg

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pianotech/1260654844.8727.1598061280777%40wamui-marley.atl.sa.earthlink.net.

[Joseph Garrett]

Doug,

See below.

-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas Gregg  020 at 9:54 PM Joseph Garrett <joega...@earthlink.net> wrote:

Sent: Aug 21, 2020 7:36 PM
To: pianotech

Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

Joe, 

As far as the Baldwin hammers are concerned, they do respond pretty well to Ballistol without lacquer removal.

I really am doubtful in regards to the stuff's ability to negate the problems on overly lacquered hammersEspecially those that have been like that for more than 10 years. I'm one who has to see/hear it to believe it. Perhaps, IF we ever have another convention and you and I can get together on some POS/PSO?

I'm thinking the carrier/pressure in the spray can may have some effect along with the magic oil within.

The Kawai, I agree, is just a rock hard hammer but it does respond to Ballistol the same way.  It just takes a lot in both cases.

Define "a lot" please.

It saves hours of needling. Steinway hammers require less treatment in most cases.

II am one who uses needles as a last resort in the voicing scheme of things. It destroys fiber continuity imo.

Which "Steinway hammers"? Pre 1970's? 1970's to 2000? (totally over lacqered BBs!) Or, current Steinway Hammers ? (after the knowledge shift due to the Hamburg Techs wizing up the N.Y. techs in the factory)??? Each is a different entity with different original scales, sounds and hammers! We need to be definitive here I think.

Ballistol is available from Amazon or on e-bay or gun stores.  It goes for between $9-11 per 6 oz spray can.  The bulk oil does not work as well as the spray can. That is likely due to the solvents for propellant added to the spray can. At least that is my thought.

I think we need some real data concerning the difference between the stuff in the can and that which is in an aerosol can. Speculation really isn't a good thing imo.

Doug,
Let's compare apples to apples. Kawai hammers do not, normally, have lacqer in them. They're just hydraulically pressed and are high density. Steinway and Baldwin piano hammers, traditionally have lacqer in them. Two different issues with two different remedies imo.
Best,

Joe  To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pianotech/CAGXuAraG4BT6nQu7ACa2YKfWYmb5Ht7SNgc770G_ug8dM309tQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Douglas Gregg]

Joe,

I just got a message to see below with no attachment??

About Lacquer removal. With my method, most of the lacquer ends up in the three gallons of acetone and not in the hammer felt at all. Also acetone is quite safe to use. The used acetone I use for cleaning other parts and for refinishing. The third gallon I use for the next set of hard hammers. Also there is little time involved. The hammers just soak for days while I work on the rest of the rebuild job. The hammers come out completely usable about like new Steinway hammers.

Doug Gregg

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 22, 2020, at 4:44 PM, Joseph Garrett <joega...@earthlink.net> wrote:



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[Joseph Garrett]

Doug,\

I can see you are not too keen on trying the MEK, so I'll let you stumble along with the acetone. My tests showed little results with acetone compared to the MEK.

BTW, I want the lower half of the hammer to have some sort of reinforcing! If the reinforcing is there, it supports the resiliency of the upper hammer and produces better tone and repetition. S&S proved that with their patented hammer glue reinforcing that was a combination of old hide glue, potash and some other "secret substances". They did that to enhance the glue joint between the moulding and the felt when they were using hide glue on their hammers. The side effect turned out to be THE S&S Sound!

But,....you can still have fun with your method of removing the hammers and dunking them in a big tub, etc. Then, putting them all back on the rail and traveling and spacing and ??? to get them to do their job. I'll stick with my method thanks. We agree to disagree.<G>

And, I'll pass on the Balistol stuff. I have it on my "Potion Shelf" but have yet to find a purpose that can't be done with some other substance better. <G>

Best,

Joe

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[Regi Hedahl]

Here's what these hammers looked like after multiple soaks in MEK and blowing them out.  Then afterwards, I sanded them back into shape.

Regi

[Joseph Garrett]

How much needle can you insert now? Did you clean/sand the tails too?

Best,

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Regi Hedahl
Sent: Aug 23, 2020 12:52 PM
To: pianotech
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

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[Regi Hedahl]

Joe,

I can insert the needle almost all the way to the core now.  Yup, I cleaned up the tails.  Interestingly, the tails were shaped far nicer than some of the Baldwin's I have seen from this era.  Also, no more than 3 lead weights in the keysticks compared to a Baldwin R I've got with 7 lead weights.  Was quality control better on an SD10 as it was their flagship piano?

Regi

On Sunday, August 23, 2020 at 1:42:31 PM UTC-7 joega...@earthlink.net wrote:

How much needle can you insert now? Did you clean/sand the tails too?

Best,

Joe

[Joseph Garrett]

Yeah! to all.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Regi Hedahl
Sent: Aug 23, 2020 3:17 PM
To: pianotech
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

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[Regi Hedahl]

Thought I would let you all the know the outcome of these hammers that I washed out whatever chemical hardners were in the hammers.  Huge different in tone and the voicing is even from one note to the other.  These hammers sound similar to very soft cold pressed hammers now.  The tone is very warm and mellow and would be appropriate in a small home.  However, it's a little too mellow for a concert grand so I'll be building up the tone with B72.

Regi

[Joseph Garrett]

Regi,

Please try ironing first.

Best,

Joe

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[Joseph Garrett]

Forgot to ask. What did you use to flush them with?

[Regi Hedahl]

Joe,

I ended up soaking them in MEK and used compressed air to blow them out.

I will iron these hammers.

Regi

[Joseph Garrett]

Excellent! I wanted everyone to hear about the results of the use of MEK. It certainly does the job. Albeit a bit too far for a concert instrument.<G>

Best,

Joe

P.S.

Doug?! Are you listening?<G>

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[Douglas Gregg]

I may try the MEK but I hate using the stuff. I used to have a job at Union Carbide in the lab years ago. The chief chemist had me pick up and do some testing of chemicals from the various distillation units. He cautioned me repeatedly to be careful to limit my time in the MEK unit. It was not good for your health. On the other hand, acetone is a byproduct of body function when mobilizing fat and the body can handle it just fine. So that is why I prefer it. 

Also soaking the hammers for a week is not taking up any of my time. I would have them off anyway in most cases during a rebuild. Mine came out about the same as Regis. They were like cold pressed hammers and a bit on the soft side. Very little voicing was required for home use. 

Attached is a New Jersey safety and health data sheet. New Jersey is not known for its environmental proactiveness either. Note especially the recommendation of FULL face respirator or positive pressure outside air supply. That is not just a cartridge mask. 

Doug Gregg

Veterinary pathologist

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[Joseph Garrett]

Doug,

When it comes to you and the chemical world, you do have a good handle on it! Thanks for "fact sheet". I did stress that it was nasty stuff and it is! Hence the reason I did it out in my 3 sided wood shed on a makeshift table of wheel barrow and sheet of plywood.  I made sure we had a nice breeze going on the day I did it and stood upwind of the stuff.

I hope that others reading this topic will be extremely cautious if they try it. NEVER do it indoors!

Thanks for all your input.

What I liked about it was that is was reasonably fast to flush that nasty lacquer out. On these kinds of jobs, the owner/player does not like to be without their piano for days on end. They get cranky if that happens.<G>

Best,

Joe

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[Regi Hedahl]

The treatment worked so well on my Baldwin SD10 that now I'm doing the same treatment on a 1988 Baldwin R.  These hammers are even worse because not only are they far too dense, they are far too heavy for the action geometry.  I will be tapering them quite aggressively so that I can pull a lot of key leads out.  It currently has 7 key leads and that will be brought down to a maximum of 3 or less.

For the SD-10, I did spend about an hour ironing the hammers just in the tenor and high bass.  It did bring them up slightly but not enough for a concert grand on stage.  A small amount of B72 took care of that and it's now fantastic!  It's warm and lyrical sounding at pianissimo and roars just as loud and authoritatively as before when really getting on it.

Regi

[Joseph Garrett]

Regi,

AHA! Now I see why you had to bring them back up so much! You put the hammers into a plastic pipe trough so that the MEK drew the lacquer completely out of the hammers. I, on the other hand, put the hammers on their tails and soaked the hammers from the top, which put the lacquer down into the bottom of the hammers. That tended to create a reinforcement of the top when it reconstituted and set up. That was what I was looking for, hence the procedure was different.<G> On my set(s), I was able to bring them up to "good" with the iron and didn't have to add any hardeners, etc.

I guess it's all in the system used to rid the hammers of lacquer.

Best,

Joe

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[Regi Hedahl]

Joe,

Actually, I only had to bring just 3 octaves from F1 to Eb4 up and it was not all that much.  The lowest unichords didn't require anything while the wound bichords, trichords and tenor did.  I wanted to started off with a clean set of hammers since I then can control exactly where to apply the new hardener.  I also much rather work with a set of hammers that are slightly on the mellow side that need to be voiced up rather than the other way around.  B72 supposedly doesn't  harden up like lacquer so I believe that the voicing will be much more stable now.

BTW, I'm getting some nasty plasticky goo oozing out of those Baldwin R hammers.  These hammers had (sustain killing) shoulders as hard as granite.  Yuck!!

Regi

[Regi Hedahl]

I am just about running out of M.E.K. and went to both Lowe's and Home Depot and only found M.E.K. Substitute.  When I see something that says "Substitute", it usually means I have to pay more for something that doesn't work nearly as well.  I did not buy it!

Where do I get the real stuff?

Regi

[Terry Farrell]

Probably best to read the label and see what is in it. Maybe it works as well, maybe not, maybe better!

Terry Farrell

<IMG_20200828_195807.jpg>

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[Joseph Garrett]

Regi,

Try Paint Stores. btw, I agree on your assessment of "substitutes".

Best,

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Regi Hedahl
Sent: Aug 28, 2020 8:48 PM
To: pianotech
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

I am just about running out of M.E.K. and went to both Lowe's and Home Depot and only found M.E.K. Substitute.  When I see something that says "Substitute", it usually means I have to pay more for something that doesn't work nearly as well.  I did not buy it!

Where do I get the real stuff?

Regi

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[Regi Hedahl]

The 1988 Baldwin R hammers didn't survive this treatment so well like the 1985 Baldwin SD10 hammers.

Regi

[Joseph Garrett]

Regi,

OOOPS! & YIKES!

It is fixable though. I have a set of clamps that would be used to glue the hammers back to the moulding.

That was the time when the company was in the death throughs of bankruptcy due to the CEO writing herself a huge retirement package, etc. They probably ran out of glue, so they used thick lacquer instead. Bad juju there.

OR,...just put a decent set of hammers on and call it gooood.

Best,

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Regi Hedahl
Sent: Aug 30, 2020 9:20 AM
To: pianotech
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

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[Regi Hedahl]

Here is a recording of that Baldwin SD10 after I washed out the lacquer from the hammers.  I ended up having to voice it back up a little in the bass and tenor section using B72.  Overall, I'm happy with the results and although I would have liked to put a set of Ronsen hammers on this piano, I think the results are very similar.

https://youtu.be/OAm1zYZvMCw

Regi

[Joseph Garrett]

Regi,

Thanks for that. Very nice overall tone. The bass is as it should be in regards to overal balance. The "Before & After" photo is exactly the same that I experienced with the M.E.K. treatment.

I'm not a fan of the tilting on the lyre though! Lyres were not made for that. And, I can relate horror stories caused by that.

As always, your playing is envious.

Best Regards,

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: Regi Hedahl
Sent: Sep 25, 2020 11:08 PM
To: pianotech
Subject: Re: [pianotech] Hammer Lacquer Removal

Here is a recording of that Baldwin SD10 after I washed out the lacquer from the hammers.  I ended up having to voice it back up a little in the bass and tenor section using B72.  Overall, I'm happy with the results and although I would have liked to put a set of Ronsen hammers on this piano, I think the results are very similar.

https://youtu.be/OAm1zYZvMCw

Regi

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[Regi Hedahl]

Joe,

I'm not a fan of it either!  With 3 men, they could have done the job without the lyre.  Or, at least they could have used a lyre brace.  The lid  had gotten cracked on this piano and the lyre could have broke tilting it this way.  The buyer backed out of this piano so now I'm stuck with it and trying to make lemonade out of lemons. 

Regi

[Joseph Garrett]

Regi,

OUCH! Didn't mean to rub salt in the wounds. That is a nice piano. Really good tone and I suspect is quite nice to play, since you were the one doing the work. Hopefully, you'll turn it soon.

Best Regards,
joe

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[John Formsma]

I like the sound!

John Formsma, RPT

New Albany, MS

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