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I've tried to search the forum for a DYI to remove some scratches on the legs of my Steinway B. The scratches are not deep and certainly not all the way through the finish. Any suggestions as to how to remove these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I remove scratches on my satin black Steinway D with a pen marker for a pen marker board. It's very simple. If the scratch has a certain depth, you can sand the scratch a little bit and then "penmark" it.

THX for the hint to a "SPIEGEL Online" (german weekly magazine) forum member in Montana, a lady who once studied in Heidelberg, a mother of two daugthers, one has also a grand, and her mom owns a satin black Steinway grand - like I do.

I would call in a professional expert to do the job, especially for such a quality piano. A piano finish repair is not something a novice should be doing.

Kind regards,

Robert.

If you are talking about a lacquer finish, unfortunately, that kind of finish has many limitations--it is not easy, even for professionals, to repair. The protocol typically involves a fine sanding to remove the scratches and usually a freshly sprayed layer on that entire area/piece. It is fairly straight forward, but not something one would want to do in a living room.

Bernd: didn't know they make satin Hamburgs.
Must be older type piano?

Norbert

Who said that either piano was a Hamburg?

I think Berndb has a NY D- Centennial model . His old black dragon...

is that right Berndb?


Sophia

Hey Norbert, see my signature. D 1877... Hamburg started to build Steinway pianos in 1880. So, where will my little satin black dragon be built once, most probably.. ?
;-)

You got it. New York City. Generally. In detail: harp cast and keys made in the then-new Queens-Rikers plant. Parts transported by Steinway ferry across the East River to the "old" plant (est. 1860) 4th Ave./52th to 53th street. Assembly (plus old satin black finish) there, and regulation.

"New" satin black finish now (after restoration) is a spray finish.

Best regards
Bernd

Your finish may not be the same as what is on the piano in question.

Dealing with the scratches may be as simple as polishing with the correct compound, although determining the correct compound may be difficult. Or it may require some additional touchup. One cannot tell without looking at the piano.

Often, for small scratches, a touch-up pen or marker, as indicated above, works very well. Especially if it is not a major expanse of wood, such as a leg.

I have been told by reputable rebuilders that the use of #0000 steel wool rubbed on bar soap such as Ivory soap then lightly rubbed along the grain of the finish works wonders for minor scratches and blemishes on lacquer finishes. One mover told me they keep these items on the truck to repair minor moving blemishes. This, of course, would only work on satin finishes that have a grain such as S&S. Some manufacturers such as Bosendorfer offer a satin finish that does not have a visible grain and you would not want to use this technique.

#0000 steel wool often does the trick. I suggest using something like naphtha or even Windex (original) rather than Ivory soap. Use whatever you're familiar with.

Keep in mind that the finishes are usually very thin, and that you have to blend in the grain of the Satin finish. And,... the more I think about it, the more I think it might be better to get a piano re-finisher. Working on thin finishes is a developed skill.

Have you tried any branded products like 'Cory' polish for satin finishes?