Expert: Eileen Cronk - 12/9/2009

Question
My wife has an upright piano which she would like to have refinished (it was her mothers).  the current finish is Blond (original).  If we strip it ourselves, any particular product you would recommend for stripping and refinishing? or should this be turned over to a professional stripper.

Answer
Hi Ralph
Nice to hear from you.
The answer would depend on your wifes skills as a refinisher.
Has she done this work before?
Refinishing a piano is certainly not much different than refinishing any furniture..just bigger LOL, so if she has some experience she should have no problem.
But consider first what the outcome will be.
By that I mean you should know what kind of wood its made from and how it will restain. And what are your expectations of the finished product. And can you make it look like you want.
I would strip a small area than doesn't show too much and try your stain.
I am sending the stripping info with the products I use.
Most definitely not the products a pro shop would use (likely a lacquer sprayed finish), but we do it yourselfers use what is available to us.
I have finished several pianos over the years all with excellent results.
Many of the piano pieces are easily removed so it makes it easier to strip.
Your piano could certainly be turned over to a pro but look for a bill of 2500 to 3000 dollars for the job.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STRIPPING FURNITURE
The first thing you must do is assemble the material to do the job.
The stripper is the most important item.  
I am hoping you can get "CIRCA 1850" brand paint and varnish remover in your area.
Here is a link
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1694&familyN...

MATERIAL LIST For the stripping stage.
1 gallon stripper
3 boxes of Bull Dog steel wool in medium grade.
One 3 inch oil based paint brush.
Rubber gloves (like you do dishes with), and a pair of cotton gloves inside the rubber ones.
People react differently to stripper. A lot of people feel heat through the rubber gloves, but I feel cold. Have no idea why.
An empty large coffee can. (for the stripper)
A couple of old tooth brushes.
Lots of old rags (I like t-shirts or cotton but for this first stage whatever you have)
Lots of newspaper to protect the garage floor
LOTS OF VENTILATION..A MUST
That's all you need to get started.
HERES WHAT YOU DO...
Work in sections.
Brush on the stripper with the brush. Stripper will quit working if it dries, so keep it wet till the finish softens.
Then take a rag and wipe this mess off.
Then another coat of stripper, rag off again, then while the wood is still wet, take the steel wool and rub with the grain till the wood is nice and clean.
Depending on the material you are removing, another coat of stripper is often needed but you will know this as you progress into the job.
Use the toothbrush in crevices.
Thats all there is to it ...move to another section and continue.
No other prep is necessary...and DO NOT SAND
When the stripping is complete, stain with Minwax oil based stain applied with a rag, then 3 or 4 coats of Circa 1850 low lustre tung oil also applied with a rag.
Please let me know if anything is not 100% clear.
But do your testing first please.

Regards
Eileen