Feature DIY: Please don’t paint your piano with cheap house paint from your local box store. Ugh!

Check out my piano restoration page on Facebook “Mikes Piano Rescue.”
Going through the process of restoring my beautiful 1951 Yamaha No35,
6' 4" grand piano. I used the 2-part Campbell Polarion finishing system which utilizes a stain, sealer and top coat clear. Sealer and clear both require the hardener additive. Thanks for watching!
Helpful skills to have:
Auto body, wood working, Welding, Mechanical, Safety, Finesse....

[@amyloueliza]

What a beautiful job. Thank you for taking the time to talk through everything and to advise/ prompt where things are requiring extra detail. The felts and how to pay attention to the order and layout of things.

[@Aljae1951]

Inspirational, I've done the same thing to a 1911 52" vertical piano. Red mahogany also.

[@killarneptune]

Dude that thing looks gorgeous. On a side note this is a 50 minute video and as sweet Lou Brown would say “ain’t nobody got time for that!”

[@thomasgatti]

I love long videos haha

[@newyorkfilharmonik110]

I've seen pros do pianos, and for not having removed the plate, you did an excellent job.

[@kedimy]

I enjoyed watching your video very much. Thank you for sharing.

[@latenightdiy1496]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😀

[@jorgeandrade20]

Excellent work and inspiring video but I wish you'd provide more details and get into the different stages of the process with videos and how-tos. I own 2 pianos, one is mahogany and the other black and I really really really could use that info.

[@chopsjazz1]

As a piano repairman/refinisher I can tell you that you may want to simply replace those casters. They are readily available through piano parts suppliers. Also, plate removal, or at least string removal/restringing, allows access to refinishing the soundboard for a more complete overhaul. Nice job on the final finish.

[@latenightdiy1496]

Yes I do agree on replacing stuff like that. I also plan to do the plate removal and re-string on this piano eventually. It has a few loose pins so Im thinking I'll up size those as well.

[@AwesomeOpenSource]

Super impressive! I'm redoing the cabinet and legs on a grand that was essentially junked. It had a "tuxedo" paint job that was really scratched up, and vefry thin paint layer. I'm not sure what type of base (primer), paint, and clear to look for. I don't have any spray tools myself, but can rent some for sure. Happy for any advice.

[@latenightdiy1496]

If Im doing a stain/clear wood finish, I definately use the 2 part systems from Campbell wood finishes. Just find a local dealer. As for paint color jobs, most of what I use is automotive from auto paint supply stores. Some automotive primers work great over wood and sometimes it helps to use a thin skim coat of bondo to fill the grain first. Its all tons of work but worth it when done right.

[@AwesomeOpenSource]

Thanks for that! @@latenightdiy1496

[@sopranogirl13]

You did a superb job, I’m amazed at how beautiful your piano turned out. I have a 1950’3 Baldwin, it’s a reddish mahogany, beautiful color but it’s not shiny. I have use boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits to clean and then wax it. My question is can you only apply the top coat you used to make it shine, or do you have to sand, re stain then apply the top coat? I’m just curious, I don’t want to change the wood color, just add the shine and protection, I would also have to hire it done since that is not a field of expertise.

[@latenightdiy1496]

With the finish system I use its definitely best to remove any other finishes before applying them. Its not easy to get a true professional shine but if you're willing to seek out the correct products, it can be done!

[@yomi7639]

Can you please list/link the product you used from Champell?

[@christiecall09]

Beautiful job!

[@latenightdiy1496]

Thank you so much. 🙂

[@pianomanic71]

Nice!!!

[@user-yz7km6uv3m]

Nice effort. Too late to help you now, but at 5:20 , the leg to mount assembly, is just 2 wedges, bit like an axe head.

[@latenightdiy1496]

Thank you so much and that makes sense. It will definitely help next time I come across this.

[@MadisonWestfield]

Omgggggg so interesting!

[@latenightdiy1496]

Lol glad you like it.

[@katlover4442]

Absolutely gorgeous!!! I have an Everett grand and previous owners tried to restain it and they thoroughly messed it up. There are drip marks on the side, and it’s really sloppy. I found a couple of spots where I could see the original color and it looks like it was a burgundy semi-gloss which was really pretty. If I want to return it to a burgundy semi-gloss, do you recommend sanding it down? I have no desire to move it and I don’t have a shop to refinish it…

[@latenightdiy1496]

Most likely if someone applied a bad finish, the only correct way to make it better will be to remove all the bad stuff first.

[@breakfree2849]

Awesome job brother. I’m getting ready to do a 1936 Steinway and I am very excited to tackle the job now. Bless you man. And also if you find out the name of the color you used let me know brother. Thanks man!

[@latenightdiy1496]

Hey thanks and I wish you the best with the project. If you are using Campbell finishes the can says Woodsong II. The number on the can says WS2S120 and it says Traditional mahogany. That should do it.

[@donprior9144]

Did you have to grain fill the wood or is this finish thick enough to fill in one or two coats?

[@latenightdiy1496]

That's a good one. Ive been trying to figure out a better way but I'm thinking brushing on the first sealer coat might be the best way in the future. Otherwise on this one, I had to re-sand and re-spray to fill the grain and it got better by the last coat.

[@enecitoleoveras8208]

Hello sir

[@RuffhouseNC]

I'm painting my piano white. I want a high gloss finish. Can I do it without a spray gun? It's inside and I can't move it. What's a good clear coat?

[@latenightdiy1496]

Trust me I’ve searched and searched for years. The only way to get that professional looking gloss finish is pretty much with automotive basecoat and clearcoat.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

Meny piano manufactures use polyester as an outercoating🎹🎶

[@nba2kcareersimulations112]

I plan on painting my piano white and doing a lacquer finish, what type of finish and piant should I use?

[@latenightdiy1496]

I’ve heard people say “lacquer finish“ but I think they are normally talking about a satin finish. The best type of paint when going with a color like white is probably going to be automotive basecoat and clearcoat. If you don’t want that super glossy finish you could buy a low gloss clear coat or buy a satin white paint kit sold on eBay. Usually comes with color and hardner. Sometimes the brand is Hot Rod flatz but there are others. Not sure of the quality on those though. I use all Sherwin-Williams Ultra with a Sata spray gun.

[@Gabrielbricksreview]

What kind of wax did you use when buffing

[@latenightdiy1496]

I typically use 3M or Maguires compounds and glazes. The finishing wax I use for wipe down is typically just Maguires or mothers spray wax.

[@alansussex7867]

Interesting But I don’t think those legs are original if it’s 1951 would be definitely straight but good job well done.

[@latenightdiy1496]

Thanks! It was rare but some of the Yamaha grand pianos in the 50s had round legs like these.

[@j.vonhogen9650]

@@latenightdiy1496 - My 140 yr old Richard Lipp grand piano has the exact same legs. Those type of legs disappeared after the 1890s. Yamaha might have added them to some of their 1950s models for nostalgia reasons.

[@HuseyinzadeMehrab2000]

Mənim fikrimə görə Royalın içərisində köhnədir məncə alətin içinində təzələnməsi çox yaxşı olar 🙂

[@latenightdiy1496]

I’m sorry but I’m not sure how to read your language. 🙂

[@HuseyinzadeMehrab2000]

@Late Night DIY İn my opinion, it would be better if the interior of the piano is changed and repaired

[@latenightdiy1496]

@@HuseyinzadeMehrab2000 yes I plan to do that in the future but for this one it was only exterior for now.

[@HuseyinzadeMehrab2000]

@@latenightdiy1496 Good luck to you 😉