Sticky Bench!

[JonathanP]

This could be about any organ, but seeing as this is the issue with my Allen, I'll put it here.

One pipe organ I play has a very slippery and very curved bench, causing me to nearly slip off. My Allen has an extremely sticky bench, which makes it impossible at times to turn and reach all the pedals.

A sticky bench is far more of an issue than a slippery bench, I've found!

Is there anything I can do to fix this, without then making it slippery? It's so sticky, that it's too much of a problem now, it's just getting ridiculous. I'd just get a replacement bench, but then it wouldn't match the casework like this bench does, so I won't do that.

[SBurton]

Some furniture polish (used sparingly) should do the trick.

Perhaps it's time to invest in some organ trousers?

[JonathanP]

Perhaps it's time to invest in some organ trousers?

Then I'd certainly never practise!

I'll give some furniture polish a try, with emphasis on the sparingly - the opposite problem is just as bad!

[alandlees]

I've previously had this issue and it seemed to be caused by over use of furniture polish causing a buildup, on my Wurlitzer bench over many years. Mine eventually sorted itself but I did have one very painful incident of playing in shorts and getting very stuck by back of my legs! I would think the ideal would be to have someone who knows what they are doing come and take the bench back to the wood and then re-apply a reasonable layer of polish...

[John Kinkennon]

My vote is for a modern polyurethane finish with no polish EVER. I'm remembering trousers destroyed by polishes and waxes in the wooden pew era. Once ironed in those shines were impossible to remove.

[tucsondave]

Anyone here sit on waxed paper when going down the playground slide as a kid?
Just a thought. Not a good thought but... :o

td

[Wes]

If the bench is a traditional wood finish, similar to a Hammond console, you can almost certainly rectify this problem by applying Howard's Restor-a-Finish.

Is this YOUR organ, or just one you have access to? If the latter, then a modern finish is definitely out. But that is a good idea, also. I did my kitchen table with Varathane 900(?) diamond clear a few years ago. It turned out VERY well and the finish is VERY durable.

Wes

[JonathanP]

It is my organ.

I'm very reluctant to do any sanding/refinishing at all, as of course the bench perfectly matches the console at present.

If over use of furniture polish could cause this, then I may give applying any more a miss. Restor-a-Finish is a good idea.

The top of the bench definitely feels waxy, and it has no shine like the rest of the organ or bench.

I suppose it is a buildup of polish etc. Would some alcohol cut through it without damaging the finish?

[davidecasteel]

I'm following this thread because the bench on my recently-acquired 305-B is also afflicted. It doesn't feel sticky to the touch, but it will not allow me to slide on it at all. When the bench is set at the proper distance for me, I have trouble getting my leg between it and the drawer for the Tone Cards, too. (I only have access from the left side of the instrument.) Being able to slide around would be very helpful.

David

[Silken Path]

Oddly enough, the bench of my Conn 643 is also sticky. I attribute that being stored in a garage with all sorts of solvents. It was also exposed to falling items (impact damage) and teething puppies (the front of one leg got WELL chewed). My favorite 60's throw blanket, that I fold up to protect my tush, STICKS to this bench.

I've managed to avoid restoring furniture all my life so far, but it seems to me that if the finish is sticky, its (1) wet for some reasons, and (2) did not develop a hard top layer. Maybe the top layer was damaged by something like solvent action. I'm hoping that somebody will tell us that so-and-so is the one-wipe solution.

[jsaxe]

Do not use alcohol! If the bench has a lacquer finish, it won't afterwards. Don't use Howard's Restor a Finish either. Start with lemon oil, if that doesn't help, try naphtha or mineral spirits to cut the build-up, finish with Howard's Feed n Wax.

J

[toodles]

Naptha is a convenient solvent that will not dissolve lacquer which is what almost every commercial furniture builder uses. It is readily available as Ronsonol cigarette lighter fluid. It will not harm shellac nor varnish. It's great for removing adhesive labels. It might, though, damage paint.

I would try it first.

[jbird604]

No, don't use alcohol of any kind. Even rubbing alcohol will dissolve the finish and leave you with a dull mess. Naphtha (Ronsonol lighter fluid, as mentioned above) would be my suggestion too, as it ought to cut through whatever gummy residue is making the bench sticky.

We get a lot of used Allen organs through the shop, and sometimes we get one that has a rather unusual finish issue on the bench top, a typical "butt print" where the finish almost looks like it dissolved or got mashed out of the way by the player's rear end. The piled-up stain and finish around the "print" will sometimes be soft and sticky. I just have to wonder what kind of material they used to finish the bench that would liquify and flow like that.

After you rub it down thoroughly with naphtha, rub on some lemon oil and use a thick dry cloth to rub off all of the oil that doesn't actually penetrate the surface. Otherwise you'll have it on your bottom when you get up.

Here's where I get crazy, and folks will disagree with me on this -- I'd use Pledge as a final treatment after the naphtha and lemon oil. Pledge is a silicone-based furniture polish that probably does build up over time and could make for a problem if you used it frequently. But it also contains some surfactants and cleaners, and it definitely cuts grease. So spray a generous amount on a thick towel or polishing cloth, rub it all over the top and keep rubbing until you think you've gotten it all off. You should find the bench top clean and quite slick.

This is more or less what I did to resurrect the finish of the Allen organ I bought back in the winter. It had apparently been in storage for a long time and the finish was covered with nasty oily residue, possibly mildew, and dirt and grime of every kind. I used Murphy Oil Soap to cut through the nasty stuff. Then when I got it clean, I used Pledge for the final treatment, leaving it very clean and slick.

[Kurzweil]

I've seen this on pianos and organs. Parts of the cabinet that get touched a lot build up dirt which combines with the finish, turning into a sticky mess. If you clean it with detergent the finish goes along with the dirt. The best solution I've heard is various finish restorative products that are designed to remove the dirt and leave the finish behind. This could be followed by some sort of sealing process but most any finish other than urethane or acrylic will be subject to dirt contamination again. I often sit on a towel, particularly if I have on shorts. Skin leaves behind dirt (oil,etc.) on anything it touches.

[myorgan]

After you rub it down thoroughly with naphtha, rub on some lemon oil and use a thick dry cloth to rub off all of the oil that doesn't actually penetrate the surface. Otherwise you'll have it on your bottom when you get up.

The butt or the print?O:-) Sorry, John. I just couldn't resist! I'm not sure how I feel about the Pledge, but the rest of the directions are excellent to have, and I concur wholeheartedly.

Jonathan, is there any problem with the finish (i.e. showing bare spots) or is it just the stickiness? I have one fellow that has given me a formula for fixing blemishes in the finish where there are bare spots. I've also found a product in our big-box hardware stores that work well on the organs I have. Minwax makes stain sticks/pens that come in various finishes. I'm not sure if it's available in the UK, though. I have one stick that works well on 2 or 3 of my organs, and another that works on the 4th. In fact, I recently used it during Symphony rehearsal to cover a couple of blemishes in their organ from reckless people where it is stored. Just be sure to have a cotton cloth to clean off the excess stain once it has set for a while.

Let us know how it all turns out. I look forward to hearing.

Michael