Expert: Eileen Cronk - 1/9/2007

Question
The desk look great.  I am inerested in the china cabnet, but don't know where to start with the prodject.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  thanks
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
I have an old upright panio I want to turn into a china cabnet.  Can this be done?
-----Answer-----
Hi Kay
So nice to hear from you.
Your piano can be turned into whatever you choose.
I was inspired to make the most wonderful desk out of an old solid walnut organ...its fabulous.
Heres where I got my inspiration.
http://www.tinkertunes.com/upright-furniture-co
After you look at all the items there, get back to me with your thoughts.
I may be able to give you a bit of help along the way.
Regards
Eileen

Answer
Hi again Kay
Glad you liked the pictures.
First thig that must be done is all the insides removed from the piano..its needs gutting LOL
Now Kay please listen to me...DO NOT attempt to do this by yourself.
Upright pianos are notoriously unstable and top heavy.
A neighbour and I almost seriously harmed ourselves taking one of these abart.
We removed all we could from the front..Keyboard, hinged top, The bottom section, then the front face.
This caused the piano to topple backwards because the huge metal sounding section is so very heavy.
And yes my friend was behind the piano at the time.
And it took 4 men to get this metal section down a few steps and outside, thats how heavy it is. So you understand this is not a job for women.
If I did this again, I would remove the metal section first, but its a heck of a job to get it detached.
So the gutting step is the first.
And the gutting must be done in such a manner that the shell is not damaged in any way.
Get back to me as you progress.
Regards
Eileen