Pianos in bad condition in Singapore

 

This is a very old model, metal parts rusty, hammers overused and sticky

Edited by StevenKoh - 17 Oct 2018 at 12:10pm

Can these pianos be restored? The manpower cost in Singapore is not cheap. I saw someone provide piano disposal service. Maybe arranging disposal is the only choice eventually

Loosening the strings, and separating the wood from the metal takes around 10 hours. If a piano has really been neglected it might have attracted rats or mice, who like to eat the animal glue used to hold it together and nuzzle up to the felt, meaning that hantavirus - a deadly disease spread by rodents - is a danger.

But it is well worth the bother, argues Hirschfelder. The strings for example are made of high grade steel, and are so strong they can be used as cables for airplanes.

The keys are made of ebony and ivory, which he has seen made into jewellery, artwork - even exclusive tiling around swimming pools.

Pianos are often not made of solid wood, but have a thick wood veneer instead, and this is still worth saving and re-using.

Some people make furniture of it, but this is usually done on a small-scale piece by piece basis.

Where Hirschfelder lives wood recycling services are not available, so it is often burned or turned into wood chip to scatter on gardens.