Tuesday, July 1, 2008

What a Lovely Sandstone red

When I noticed drops of blood on the piano, from my own hands, I realized that perhaps this whole refinish a piano project is a little much. That was when I leaned back into the soft cushion of plastic drop cloth (that is such a lovely decorating piece), and let tears make paths in the red dust on my cheeks.

One thing I am really good at is taking on too much. I do it constantly. I must be addicted to the thrill of stress or something equally insane. Really this refinish a piano is too much. First of all, why did I choose a piano for my first refinishing experiment. Why not a dresser, or a table, or even a small stick? Second of all, I have never used a sander before. Perhaps fine wood was not an appropriate starting place either. Look I've ruined it:

Third of all, no one in their right mind sands a large piano inside their home.
Mike and I spent Friday and Saturday sanding the Dread Piano Chambers. The DPC is quickly becoming a much hated and maligned object of furniture in our house. Mike is such a kind soul. He sanded both days and only once, when I cried, admitted that he too hated the DPC and would gladly pay someone to take it from our house.

We are amateur sanders, so despite the fact that I covered everything in sheets, a fine red dust pervaded the house. We spent about five hours cleaning after we vowed that we were done sanding the DPC, for better or worse. Of course, there are still spots on the DPC that refuse to sand off. Then there are the places where I've ruined it. After all this stupid work, I'm just going to have to paint it black to cover up my mistakes. CURSE you DPC! CURSE you!

Not a staged picture, I swear. I turned around and both girls were sitting next to each other, reading books. This lasted only long enough to snap a picture. (Notice the ever constant presence of the looming DPC in the background. Forever ugly. Forever taunting my incompetence)

8 comments:

Mike said...

Just so you all know...I was the one who ruined the wood. "Steph, it's wood. You can always go deeper." Needless to say, deeper is worser (sic). Hopefully some experienced carpenter will happen upon this picture and be able to offer us better advise than I offered Steph. Because my next advice to her is to paint the whole dang thing black, like a grand, or maybe some psychedelic color. Anyway, even though it appears to be nice solid oak, I swear it is just a facade--an evil hoax, to conceal its hidden secret laminate layer. Those white spots won't even get smooth like the rest of the wood. Stupid POM (piece of manure) DPC. But other than that, I think it looks really good! Don't you think Steph is amazing!

Unknown said...

And this is why I have never attempted any such project. Heck, we've been here four years and I've yet to get ours tuned.

Must get on that....

Mark and Kristen said...

Sounds like something I'd do. I love how the Joy School park day turned out yesterday! LOL.

ROBYN -N- KEVIN said...

Steph, I too had my first experience with a sander, but I did start out smaller... baby dresser. But you are amazing taking on an ENTIRE piano. And just when you have mastered it, I want my piano refinished also, because I wanted a black one too.

Mark and Kristen said...

We had 100% turnout at the joyschool park day, 4 of us were at one park, and the other 3 were somewhere across town, nice. HaHa

Marcie said...

Oh, you must be a Hansen. Taking on projects and becoming overwhelmed and stressed half way through, that sounds all to familiar!

kristi lou said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kristi lou said...

steph! you two are so diligent! good for you! it's looking good!

it was great to see you the other day!