PROPER CARE
OF A LACQUER FINISH
Generally
speaking, a lacquer finish requires very little maintenance.
It does not need
waxing.
I do not like to
use commercial polishes that contain silicone. Silicone is a polishing
oil makes a finish shine and scratch less but I do not believe it is
necessary for most residential furniture or pianos.
CONDITIONS
TO AVOID
Direct sun -
placement of piano in window area.
Bright light,
especially direct sun will damage a finish rapidly and permanently.
It will fade the coating, bleach out color, dry out wood, and weaken
glue joints. If it is impossible to prevent sunlight from hitting
your piano, consider having window film coatings professionally
installed. Many of these coatings reduce ultra violet light transmission
by up to 98%. They also reduce infrared light energy which heats
up a surface. The damage from light and heat not only harm the finish,
they can seriously damage the instrument and make it much harder to
maintain a stable tuning. I still prefer keeping bright light off
the piano all together, but if you can't avoid some light, consider
these filters.
Direct heat or
cold.
Heat vents.
Excessive moisture
or dryness.
Avoid placing
heavy objects on the piano.
CLEANING
YOUR LACQUER FINISH
For routine
dusting, take a clean piece of cotton or cheese cloth and saturate in
warm water, wring it out thoroughly and then wring it out a second time
inside a towel. This will leave the cloth slightly damp.
Dust or clean with the cloth, being careful to rub in the direction of
the wood grain or rubbed direction as much as possible. Go over
your dusting with a clean dry cloth if any moisture is left behind.
NEVER LEAVE
ANY MOISTURE ON A FINISH
WATER
RESISTANT NOT WATERPROOF
A lacquer finish
is water and alcohol resistant but not waterproof, meaning water or
alcohol should not hurt the finish, but do not leave a wet glass on your
piano lid. If you get a water ring on your finish immediately dry
off and rub with a clean, refined oil. I recommend paraffin or
mineral oil. Cooking oil may also be used if nothing else is
available. This should help lift the trapped moisture from the
finish. Clean off the surface with mild soap and water and dry
thoroughly. If the ring does not clear up, contact a professional.
POLISHING
Your piano needs
polishing only once or twice a year. I recommend Guardsman polish.
The directions on the container give two methods of using the polish.
Always remember to wipe off the polish completely after polishing.
Guardsman is also a good cleaner. If a buildup of dirt or grease
accumulates on your furniture or piano, Guardsman should remove it.
If it does not, try some mild soap (Ivory Liquid) with warm water,
always remember to clean soap and water off the finish when work is
completed.
HEAT
Try to keep piano
away from any kind of direct heat or light. This causes the wood
to dry out and shrink, and the finish will start cracking prematurely.
Try keeping the room temperature at a fairly constant temperature.
A winter time minimum of 62 degrees and a summer time maximum of 80
degrees is recommended.
MOVING AND
STORAGE
When it is
necessary to have the piano moved, it is very important to employ an
experienced piano mover. Consult with a local piano tuner or music store
for a referral of a competent and insured mover.
If it is
necessary to store the piano, it is important to store it in a safe and
controlled environment. Many storage facilities have little or no
control of the heat, and humidity. It is not only dangerous for the
finish, it is also very destructive of the instrument.
Copyright
by Kevin E. Hancock, Inc. 2005-2016 all right s reserved
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