Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-11-21 00:40
I have an oboe recently bought, being overhauled. Below is an email I just received.
Any general opinions regarding best action to take? I have blanked out the charges as I do not want to distract from the consequences and wisdom of the various options. I have asked if there is a fourth option of blasting doing the hard work, and then sanding for a finish.
Many thanks for your considerations
Chris
Stripped your oboe yesterday and started the cleaning process, I have found that someone in their wisdom has decided to lacquer the body of the oboe, this is not an advisable process as it does not allow the wood to expand and contract naturally, it also dries the surface and makes it more prone to cracking when being played
Option 1, happy to leave it if you wish and simply repad
Option 2, sand the lacquer of the instrument until clean wood is obtained
and then start oiling process, very time consuming, my charge $x
Option 3, Plastic media blast the lacquer off, my charge $x, media is expensive $1200 per drum and its blast to waste, no recycling of the media.
In the past most of my clients have gone with the media blast, this removes
all traces of lacquer and opens the pores of the wood up, it does not damage the wood in any way. However it does leave the surface texture open, there is no mistaking that it is wood, when you sand an instrument the fine sanded particles are redeposited back into the wood grain giving the smooth gloss style finish. If you would like I can do a test media blast piece up for you to show what the end result looks like.
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