Piano Refinishing – How to Restore a Piano Finish

The process of refinishing a piano can be separated into three processes, the removal of old finish, preparation of the surface and application of the final coating. The piano will need to be completely disassembled and the hardware removed before the work can begin and all exposed interior parts will need to be covered. Failure to perform these steps can result in permanent damage to your piano.

If you desire your final finish to be of a high quality, the first prerequisite is to remove all the old varnish with a paint stripper designed for furniture. Several applications will be necessary for complete removal, using steel wool and a paint scraper to assist. Then the bare wood will need to be thoroughly washed with paint thinner and/or lacquer thinner and inspected for any varnish that has been left. Pianos with ornate parts and legs will be especially challenging, with special care needed to remove the varnish without damaging or scratching the delicate wood. It should be noted that good quality paint strippers are toxic and the proper PPE devices should be worn when handling these materials.

After the wood surface has been thoroughly cleaned and sanded, you will need to fill the pores of the wood with a wood filler to seal the grain prior to applying the first coat of stain. It is important to select filler that based on the same chemical makeup, such as a lacquer based stain with lacquer based filler. Failure to do so may cause a reaction or the staining colors will be uneven. To reach your preferred depth of color, apply as many coats of stain as necessary with a cotton rag or foam brush, making sure to rub it in thoroughly, wiping away excess material to prevent streaking.

When the filling, sanding and staining is complete it is time to prepare for finishing the piano in a varnish, the most common options are polyurethane, shellac and lacquer. The preferred material used by professional finishers is nitrocellulose lacquer. If you choose to use lacquer you will need to apply several coats of a lacquer based sanding sealer, making sure to sand in between coats and allowing time for each coat to cure to prevent scratching of the wood in order to achieve a smooth surface. After this step is complete, coats of the final lacquer coating can be applied, progressively thinning more after each application and making sure to sand between each coat with sanding will insure you will have a finished product that is of a high professional quality.



Achieving a high quality piano refinishing takes experience and expertise. The process is labor intensive and will require a basic setup of equipment and materials. If a person does not have a background or prior experience in refinishing it is advisable to seek out the assistance of a piano restorer. Several excellent piano restoration firms offer special refinishing packages that may suit your needs.