Tillie Doyle
Refurbishing an old piano keyboard can be a rewarding project that brings new life to an old or neglected instrument. The process involves cleaning, repairing, and replacing minor parts, as well as tuning and adjusting for better sound quality. Before beginning any work, it is essential to assess the piano's overall condition, including its service history and any broken pieces, damaged keys, or water damage. Cleaning the piano with a soft brush, cloth, or vacuum cleaner attachment can help remove dust, dirt, and debris without damaging the finish. Refinishing the wood is an optional but popular step that can enhance the piano's appearance, involving stripping and sanding to remove the old finish. Repairing or replacing damaged keys is also crucial, and tuning the piano will ensure it sounds its best.
How to refurbish an old piano keyboard
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Assess the piano's overall condition | Check for cracks, warping, rust, breaks, wear, chips, discolouration, scratches, dents, water damage, dust, dirt, and debris |
| Repair/replace any damaged parts | Pinblocks can be refurbished by reboring each hole and installing oversized pins; repair/replace keys, broken hammers, and worn-out pedals; repair cracks with wood glue or epoxy; fill scratches and dents with wood filler; replace soundboard if necessary |
| Clean the piano | Use a soft brush or cloth, or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment |
| Oil the piano's mechanism | Use a special piano oil |
| Tune the piano | Hire a professional piano tuner or use specialised tools and techniques |
| Finish the wood | Strip old lacquer or varnish; sand the wood; apply wood stain and sealant or varnish; use grain highlighting paste and a protective wax coating |
| Maintain the piano | Regular cleaning, tuning, and humidity control |
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What You'll Learn
Cleaning the piano
Next, use a soft cloth, preferably a microfiber cloth, to wipe down the piano's finish. Slightly dampen the cloth with plain water if necessary, and follow up with a dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture. Avoid using too much moisture and ensure that it does not seep between the keys or down into the keybed, as this can cause swelling and affect the functionality of the keys.
If there are stubborn marks or stains, create a mild cleaning solution by mixing a few drops of liquid soap with warm water. Dip your cloth into this solution, wringing it out to ensure it is barely wet, and gently wipe down the keys in a "toward-the-player" motion, from the part of the keys farthest from you to the part closest. Use a separate damp cloth with plain water to wipe down the keys a second time, and then dry each key with a soft, dry cloth.
If your piano has ivory keys, be aware that the use and production of ivory are banned in many countries, so you will not be able to replace them with new ivory keys. Instead, you can fill in any cracks or chips, sand them down, and polish them to restore their appearance. Alternatively, you can use car polish or a similar product to restore the shine to your keys.
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Repairing the keys
If the keys are cracked, one can attempt to repair them using wood glue or epoxy. However, if the cracks are significant, it may be best to consult a professional piano technician. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace the keys entirely. This can be costly, so it is important to consider the overall condition of the keyboard before making this decision.
If the keys are not functioning properly, it may be necessary to remove them to identify the problem. This can involve mild disassembly, depending on the piano. Once the keys are removed, it should be obvious what is causing the issue. For example, if the black foam rubber piece underneath the keys is destroyed, it will need to be replaced. It is important to keep track of where each key belongs during this process to ensure proper reassembly.
In some cases, the issue may be with the piano's mechanism rather than the keys themselves. This may require cleaning and oiling the moving parts of the piano to ensure they are well-lubricated and functioning correctly. A special cleaning solution and piano oil are necessary for this step. Tuning the piano is also an important part of ensuring that the keys are functioning properly and that the piano sounds its best.
Overall, repairing the keys on an old piano keyboard can be a complex process, and it is important to proceed with caution to avoid causing further damage. In some cases, it may be best to consult a professional piano technician for assistance. However, with the correct tools and information, it is possible to refurbish an old piano keyboard and bring it back to its former glory.
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Refinishing the wood
Firstly, strip the old finish using a gentle stripper to remove old lacquer or varnish. Be cautious and pay attention to the type of wood and finish, as delicate surfaces may require extra care. Next, sand the wood lightly to remove any imperfections, always sanding with the grain to avoid scratching the surface. Post-sanding, you may find scratches and dents that can be filled with wood filler. Allow the filler to dry completely before sanding it smooth.
With a smooth surface prepared, apply a wood stain for colour, followed by a sealant or varnish to protect the wood. This step should be done carefully to avoid uneven finishes or streaking. For a contemporary appearance, a black stain is an excellent choice, especially for oak pianos. A rich mahogany or walnut stain can add elegance to a traditional or craftsman-style home, while a stain with an undertone of white, grey, blue, or red can add dimension and charm to a non-traditional space.
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Tuning the piano
Set Up
Make the room as quiet and isolated as possible by closing doors and turning off appliances. Remove any cabinet doors covering the piano strings, gently dust the strings, and set up a light to clearly illuminate the workspace. Inspect the piano strings and pins for any damage, and consult a professional if there are any major issues.
Prepare Middle C
Identify the strings that correspond to middle C, which is typically made up of three strings, although older pianos may only have two. Use rubber mutes to dampen the outer strings if there are three, or just the left string if there are two.
Set the Temperament
Using the temperament notes as your guide, tune the middle octave of the piano. This will serve as the reference point for the rest of the tuning process.
Tune Each Octave
Starting with the notes C5 to C6, compare each note with the temperament and tune one string at a time. Use mutes to silence the other strings until you are ready to tune them. Tune the piano "to itself" during this step to achieve the most harmonious sound.
Additional Techniques
Professional piano tuners may employ various techniques at this stage, such as focusing on major thirds, fourths, fifths, the equal temperament model, inharmonicity, and hand-stretching octaves, to fine-tune the piano and ensure its sound is both accurate and long-lasting.
It is important to note that tuning a piano requires specialized tools, such as a tuning lever (also known as a tuning hammer or wrench) and an electronic chromatic tuner. If you are unsure about the process or do not have the necessary tools, consider hiring a professional piano technician to ensure the job is done correctly.
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Replacing the soundboard
The soundboard is the heart and soul of a piano, designed to amplify the sound of vibrating piano strings. It is exposed to humidity and other environmental swings during its lifetime, which can result in cracks and loose soundboard ribs.
When assessing whether to replace or restore a soundboard, the level of damage must be considered. If the soundboard has sustained extensive damage, it may be necessary to remove the plate from the piano and replace the soundboard. This is a costly and complex process, requiring the removal of the strings and the plate, as well as rebuilding the piano. It can cost thousands of dollars and may result in a dramatically different sound. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a professional technician for insight on how best to preserve the piano's sound.
If the soundboard is to be replaced, craftsmen will use hammers, saws and planes to carefully restore or replace the heart of the piano. The new soundboard is typically constructed of fine-quality, solid close-grain spruce, custom-cut, and fitted to the piano's rim. The soundboard is expertly dried and cured to ensure optimum permanence and resonance, with numerous supporting ribs, usually made of sugar pine, tapered to the soundboard.
The original soundboard may be too far gone, or you may prefer the fuller tone and high stability of a freshly installed soundboard. Replacing the soundboard gives new life to the instrument and often greatly improves the quality of the tone. However, it is a major undertaking that requires careful consideration.
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Frequently asked questions
Start by assessing the piano's overall condition. Check the soundboard for cracks or warping, evaluate the strings and hammers for rust or breaks, inspect the keys for chips, discolouration or sticking, and check the exterior woodwork for scratches, dents or discolouration.
You will need a soft brush or cloth to clean the piano, a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment, car polish or a repair set for sanding and polishing the keys, and a special cleaning solution and piano oil to clean and oil the piano's mechanism. You may also need wood glue or epoxy to repair cracks in the keys, and a wood filler to fill in any scratches or dents in the piano's exterior woodwork.
If the keys are broken, remove them from the piano and replace them with new ones. If the keys are cracked, fill in the cracks with wood glue or epoxy, then sand and polish the keys. If the keys are discoloured, you can try using car polish or a similar product to restore their shine.
The soundboard is the most important part of the piano, so it is essential to ensure that it is in good condition. If the soundboard is warped or cracked, it may need to be replaced. If the soundboard is in decent condition, you can try to refurbish it by measuring the remaining height of the "crown" (the slight upward arch towards the centre of the soundboard) and reusing it if it has retained a good height and is in good shape overall.
To maintain your refurbished old piano keyboard, it is important to follow a routine maintenance plan. Dust the piano frequently, keep the keys clean, and tune the piano every 6-12 months to maintain sound quality. Pianos are sensitive to humidity, so using a humidifier or dehumidifier can prevent wood warping and other climate-related issues.
