Welcome to old and new friends who are interested in discussing Cajun and other diatonic accordions, along with some occasional lagniappe....



CAJUN ACCORDION DISCUSSION GROUP

 

General Forum
Start a New Topic 
Author
Comment
View Entire Thread
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

I wouldn't try that.
If you do, talk to an artist who understands the interactions between colours and tones.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

Anything is possible if one is willing to pay for it. So if you would want to make a blue accordion natural or a lighter color much work is involved. Less work is necessary to make that same accordion a black one but still requires pretty much labor. In my experience Anline dyes usually don't fade very much unless the accordion would be stored near a window out of its case. Then it should not fade a whole lot. The much used food dyes do fade to a much greater degree even in less light. Now while I have never used food dyes I make no claim to know who may or may not have used them. Concerning the faces that have been covered with veneer. If they were done right in the begining one should not have any problem striping them. Follwing are the steps I use to finish the end plates (faces) 1. Glue veneer onto the end plates. 2. drill holes in end plates. 3. Engrave logo and scrolls. 4. Apply several coats of finish, depending on the veneer this may require 12 to 18 coats. 5. sand smooth. 6. Apply gold leaf (22k) to logo and scrolls. 7. Lightly sand and mount into frames. Final finishing is done when the accordion body is completed then keyboards, corners etc are mounted onto the accordion.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

So the dye doesnt go so deep into the veneer that removing the color might go through the veneer?

Thanks for the input John.

Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

I have a fairly well used LA box I bought a about a year ago. There are finish issues on it Ive been wondering about repairing. Specifically it looks like someone had been prying up one of the stops with a butterknife. Areas around the mets rod are scuffed up pretty good. Im wondering if there is a way to get the rods out and plug the holes while I take down the wood on that part of the box and refinish it ??
Also, on the sticking stops issue, anyone have any idea about maybe getting just a little bit of soap on there to loosen it up? Im not looking to blow bubbles or anything but I doubt it could really harm the box ??

Re: Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

IF, and that's a big if, the soap happens to then create flakes or something inside the box, they might clog up a reed. Graphite?

Re: Re: Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

Wax. Try wax. Of course, that's probably pretty close to soap.

Re: Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

i think refinishing would be hard
because the original process
does stain first, then engrave,
ink the engraving, etc

i had my blue 1996 point noir fade
to an uneven greenish light blue
it was almost yellow in spots
it was probably made with food color

my larry miller from 2000
has faded some to a less intense
purple, and i am pretty sure
he used real woodworkers dye, not
food coloring


so all those weird stain colors might
fade, no matter what
i;ve even tried to cover it when not
playing

the point noir, i sold to
cajungreeneyes, but he knew about
the fading

wle.

++++++++

Re: Re: Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

Color Haiku

I made an inquiry to Jr. Martin
To change the color of a box
From a bright color to solid black.
The cost would be $800.

R!CK

Not worth it, IMO.

Re: Is it possible to refinish an accordion?

Removing the clearcoat is the messy part. Food coloring stain can be drawn to the surface with a damp towel first. An oxidizer will then eliminate the color. I have not used a bleach solution, but Oxi clean works in dillution as well as lab cleansers. Aniline dye, which is very hazardous, is colorfast when lightstruck and is what many gibsons are colored with. It is added to the lacquer as opposed to staining first. Try the coloring on scrap, and then try removing it.
It has worked for me on a variety of stringed instruments that used a water based dye.
I would just live with it on a box though.
Craig



Jamey Hall's most excellent Cajun Accordion Music Theory

Brett's all new Cajun Accordion Music Theory for all keys!

LFR1.gif - 1092 Bytes The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week

augusta.gif - 6841 Bytes

Listen to Some GREAT Music While You Surf the Net!!
The BEST Radio Station on the Planet!