12. Cleaning the Grand Sound Board

Our sound board cleaning steel is priced low.
Be careful not to scratch the sound board when using this tool.

First, completely fill the hole in the steel with rags so that the steel cannot touch the sound board. You may want to wind electrician's tape around the metal and in and out of the hole to be sure steel does not touch wood.

Now, spray the rag with Endust, and push it through the wires so that it flips around this way and that picking up the dust. Do this all the way across the sound board, and go down the holes in the casting the same way. Repeat this a second time with a dry rag to pick up any residue of Endust. You can blow the loose matter out with a vacuum which has a blow option. Then do the whole process over a third time with Liquid Gold LIGHTLY. This will give a nice appearance without adding the weight of wax.

DO NOT WAX THE SOUND BOARD.

Did you find some interesting junk hiding back under the steel casting? If you had a buzz or rattle, it will probably be gone now.

If the sound board has a big impressive decal on it, be very gentle over that area. If the decal is damaged, you can probably order a new one from me in the Online Catalogue in the back.

If the sound board has some really scummy substance that looks a lot like spilled Coke, you may go after it with a very sparing use of water on the rag. I prefer to use kerosene. It will not damage the wood as easily as water. A strong solvent will take the varnish off the wood, and that is a no no.

Finally, when you have it clean again, shut your big lid. The grand piano looks so charming with its top up all the time, but it is a glorious dust trap. Keep the lid all the way closed please. Also, NEVER let anyone put drinks, flowers, food, ash trays or anything but music on the piano.

You may purchase a scarlet felt piece to lay over the string area so that the lid can be left up without collecting dust. See the Felt Parts in the Online Catalog.

 

NEVER get any liquid on the tuning pins. There are pin treatments made for tuning pins, but all other liquids are a no no. NEVER let your technician put water, alcohol, or glycerin on the tuning pins to tighten them. This is a temporary fix used by crooks to tighten the pins long enough for the tuner to collect his payment and make it to the golf course before the liquid dries out and the pins start slipping again.

On to task 13.

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