Shellac

[Gregor _]

I never saw shellac on a plate, only on fine pored wood. Yes, it´s a nice 
stuff but very hard to apply and not so easy to repair. I polished a few 
pianos with shellac and must say that it´s not a nice job. One has to 
prepare the surface very very carefull and accurate so that it´s very clean 
and even before you start polishing. During polishing by hand with a 
polish-bale made of linen (wrapped around a cotton core) you have to move 
the bale all over the time. If someone asks you for the time and you look on 
your watch for a second or two (stopping the movement and leaving the bale 
on the surface) the bale sticks on the surface and it gets clammy. Then you 
have to remove that stuff and start again. Very difficult: polishing curved 
areas like the fallboard.

We experimented with spraying or brushing it and I heard from collegues 
trying that too: no good result. The best is to build up a complete surface 
work only by polishing. But the result is really nice and stable. It has a 
depth in the glance. The drawbacks are: it takes very long to make a nice 
surface. Furthermore you have to wait after each polishing pass so that the 
shellac can dry. Next day you can go on. When the whole piano has been done 
you have to let it rest for a while to harden the shellac. In the factories 
(at that time when it was popular) they shelved the pianos for 6 - 12 months 
before shipping.

For rebuilding it is not nice to choose shellac: very much work, so it´s 
very expensive, and you have to wait before delivery. Perhaps for a 
individual ambitious long-time project, but not for earning money. But I can 
tell you: it´s a great feeling when you did it and can see the end result. 
Particularly  when it is a black piano. Really something to be proud of.

Gregor


>From: "Philip Jamison" <mortier9 at hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
>To: pianotech at ptg.org
>Subject: Shellac
>Date: Sat, 28 Apr 2007 07:57:16 -0400
>
>Regarding the durabillity of shellac on piano plates, etc.: If you'll look 
>at a 19th-century piano plate or finish, you'll be able to judge how 
>durable this finish is. It turns slightly golden in tone over the years, 
>but not brown like varnish. It does not form that "alligator" texture. 
>Water won't harm it so long as you wipe it off. It can be repaired easily 
>with French polishing or additional coats. It adhears to almost any finish 
>and does not peel loose, and it's quite hard and durable. You can spray, 
>brush or rub it on, and it dries quickly. Nice stuff.
>
>Philip Jamison
>West CHester, PA
>
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