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On a piano's finish, when the word "checking" is used, presuming it is a defect, what does it imply ?
Karl Watson,
Staten Island, NY
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As far as I know checkin refers to when a piece of wood cracks and splits at the ends.
2012 NY Steinway Model B | Kawai MP11 | Nord Stage 3 Compact | Moog Matriarch | ASM Hydrasynth 49 | Sequential Circuits Prophet 10 Rev4 | Yamaha ModX 61
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Finishes which are checked have fine cracks which usually look like a net pattern.
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Thank you for your reply, BDB.
Many old Steinways of my acquaintance have a pattern that I, amongst other pianists, refer to as "alligator." Is that it ?
Karl
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Isn't that called crazing? I saw it all over the plate of a gorgeous Bosie I played locally last year.
2012 NY Steinway Model B | Kawai MP11 | Nord Stage 3 Compact | Moog Matriarch | ASM Hydrasynth 49 | Sequential Circuits Prophet 10 Rev4 | Yamaha ModX 61
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Isn't that called crazing? I saw it all over the plate of a gorgeous Bosie I played locally last year. Crazing is a synonym, Markarian. Although here in my area "checking" means a gentler cracking and separating of the finish. "Alligatoring" or "crazing" is generally used for a more severe finish failure. Nothing is exact in these descriptions though. It is much like asking at what inch a baby grand becomes a grand.
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It is much like asking at what inch a baby grand becomes a grand. Why Rich....when it gets Bar Mitzvahed of course. [Too easy!]
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I've heard "crazing" to describe the pattern on ceramics and "checking" for finished wood. I don't know if that is standard.
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To me:
Crazing suggests the spider web cracks that I see in ceramics.
Checking suggest the parallel lines that I'm most used to seeing in Nitrocellulose lacquer guitar finishes.
Kurt
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Friends:
On a piano's finish, when the word "checking" is used, presuming it is a defect, what does it imply ?
Karl Watson,
Staten Island, NY It implies there is some degradation to the finish. It is usually a series of spidery lines in the lacquer part of the piano's finish. Most often this damage is age related, but I have seen some newer pianos (less than 40 years old) with similar finish problems. As far as what causes it, that would be better for someone with expertise in finishes to weigh in.
Pianist and Piano Teacher
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And my take on the exact meanings of the different terms:
Some people mean something very specific when they use a certain term (checking vs. crazing etc.). Others do not. Therefore the term is only as specific as the person describing the piano. So unless you know the person describing the piano, or know of them I don't think it's possible to have a real specific, exact definition
Pianist and Piano Teacher
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