The Stripping of a Reed Organ Case

In this video I show the stripping of the case of a reed organ case. I am recording the restoration of this reed organ on video as part of my blog. If you would like to receive email notification of new entries in my reed organ restoration blog please visit my website and follow the link of the home page. www.reedorgansireland.com

[@zzzut]

I asked CZcams for The Stripper played on the organ and this video was one of the suggestions! I enjoyed your video even though it was not exactly what I was looking for. 😊

[@MasonHamlinOrgans]

Hi,
I use a "hotter" liquid stripper that works instantly, but the truth is that safer.slower chemicals will eventually take over completely, but almost anything dissolves old shellac polish. My best tip is to exploit the force of gravity. Turn the cabinet sides (or front) upright for the rinsing step, starting at the top with a soft brush and clean solvent, wash down the case, so the gunk is always being rinsed downwards. This is the most efficient way I know of. It's a variant of the "flow-over" method, but doesn't require the large rinse table and circulator pump. I catch the effluent in a metal tray if possible, but with a large item like the carcass, sop it up with sawdust, wood chips or rags.

[@hermanlamprecht3441]

I am busy rebuilding a Weaver reed organ. I am using normal sugar soap, which is removing the old varnish in no time. No toxic chemicals.

[@darraghconnolly4979]

Thanks for those thoughts Casey. Never occurred to me to rely on gravity! I haven't even heard of a 'hotter' liquid stripper. I don't know if those are available here in Ireland.

[@MasonHamlinOrgans]

I use a liquid stripper that contains methylene chloride. It's very fast, corrosive, irritating. But I can strip a case in a day; for those times when the finish has to be removed entirely; hopefully not every finish you encounter is as poor as that one. Is that the Estey?

[@darraghconnolly4979]

***** I think that chemical may not be permitted in the European Union anymore Casey. The stripper I use is 'methylene chloride free'. Other guys talk about the older version of nitromorse being better stuff before they removed the 'good chemical'. I think that is the one they are talking about.

[@JamesEncliffe]

If it is just shellac (French polish) then copious amounts of denatured alcohol will rapidly soften it and it can be rinsed off leaving the wood stain often intact and the surface smooth. If varnish, then a paint stripper will be required. The junk can be usefully be washed out of mouldings with a stiff bristle brush and turpentine.

[@darraghconnolly4979]

Thanks James. I must keep that in mind for future. In this case it had been varnished at some stage so the old finish was long since gone. I find a 'deck brush' works really well on the mouldings.