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Hi
im looking for a simple way to finish an upright piano. now im finishing the stripping and sanding process and i would like to taint it after. i would like to get a high gloss finish but i dont have the equipment to shoot so it would have to be painted. i heard of people who use tung oil layer after layer to get a very glossy look but i dont think it can be put on tainted wood. maybe a lacquer but i dont know if it would look good if its not shooted. any advice on what to use ?
Thanks
Maxime
Hi Maxime,
Traditionally Pianos are finished with French Polish and to get the high deep gloss it is finished with an acid rub. Can't tell you how that one is done. Sorry but a good French polish would still look great without the final part of the process. Look around the net or this forum for some tips on French Polishing.
Practice on some smaller project to begin with, good luck.
Cheers
Steve
I once French Polished a humidor - 9 inches x 11 inches. Took about 10 hours of work over about ten days, as you have to let it sit for a day or so between to fully harden.
To do an entire piano would take a while!
As for tung oil, if you have the patience for French Polish you might have the patience for applying tung oil!
Tung oil is subject unto itself.
For one, if it doesn't say 100 per cent Tung Oil, it is some sort of gimmick stuff that is mixed with a varnish - might as well use varnish thinned out with mineral spirits.
True French Polish is done with Shellack. If you were to shellack it with a brush and let it harden thoroughly and then rubbed it out with a flat cork block and then hit it with a second, third, etc coat, rubbing between coats after allowing it to harden, you could get a good finish.
Best to shoot it with nitrocellulose laquer with HVLP, rubbing between coats.