Suggestions on Protecting Organ from Pets

[Doctor Robert]

Hello,

As the owner of three cats and a dog, I feel the necessity to protect my D-152 from any damage by having it cloaked with heavy blankets, which is not an attractive look for the living room. (My C-3 is kept at my rehearsal studio, so she's safe.)

It occurred to me that one solution might be to use a 3-panel acrylic drum shield / sound barrier to enfold the organ against the wall. Has anyone tried anything like that, or perhaps has a better solution? I also wonder if the acrylic panels could be bought local and cut to specifications. I'd have to figure out how to hinge them, though.

Here's an idea of what I'm thinking...



Thanks, everybody!

[Tonewheel]

Now this one is an original thread, I think! Cats probably love to claw their way up the blankets.

That plexiglass might be expensive, but you could look at something like the Petsafe collars and transmitter: https://www.amazon.com/PetSafe-Barri...ywords=petsafe

Price isn't too bad, and extra collars are reasonable.

[Adam Ziolkowski]

I can't complain, all my dog does is just get fur on my keys...

[Bobmann]

Hello,

As the owner of three cats and a dog, I feel the necessity to protect my D-152 from any damage by having it cloaked with heavy blankets, which is not an attractive look for the living room. (My C-3 is kept at my rehearsal studio, so she's safe.)

It occurred to me that one solution might be to use a 3-panel acrylic drum shield / sound barrier to enfold the organ against the wall. Has anyone tried anything like that, or perhaps has a better solution? I also wonder if the acrylic panels could be bought local and cut to specifications. I'd have to figure out how to hinge them, though.

Here's an idea of what I'm thinking...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]31513[/ATTACH]

Thanks, everybody!

Just my personal opinion, but I would think that a nice looking blanket or quilt would look better in a living room than that thing pictured.
You could even get someone to make you a fitted cover out of some nice material that matched your living room decor.
What exactly are your pets guilty of that makes it necessary for this? Just curious. I have always had both cats and dogs and birds in the house, all of which shared the same space at the same time as my organs and Leslies. Other than the hair, and the cat liking the padded bench to sleep on, we all co-existed.

I did get a C3 once that a cat had used the top as his litter box for a long time...the urine had run down all the way to the pedal box. I could not even put the thing in my shop, it smelled so bad. I did manage to restore the cabinet it by soaking in Hydrogen Peroxide for several weeks then sealing everything in several coats of shellac. That even took out the stains as well as the odor. The keyboard and pedal box was garbage, though, and had to be replaced.
Never again.

Bob

[Tim_at_Jonas]

A screen around it won't keep the critters off - they will find a way!

Have a nice custom-fit vinyl cover made. Make sure that the top piece rolls over the sides, and the seams are overlapped instead of underlapped, to minimize fluid ingress. If that has a poor WAF, have a quilter make a fitted quilt to put over the vinyl.

[Doctor Robert]

My chief concern is that one of the cats would decide to use the organ speaker cover as a scratch pad. I also plan on getting another puppy someday and wouldn't want the pooch to chew away on the pedals. Probably an attractive custom-fitted cover is the way to go.

[tpappano]

What about simply cutting out a rectangular piece of material (Masonite, perhaps?) that you would place in front of the speaker grille when the organ is not in use? Another piece could be laid atop the pedalboard to discourage puppy chewing. We always make sure our pups have their own toys to destroy, so far they have left our stuff alone 8)

[Doctor Robert]

That's a possibility... Hmm...

[Bobmann]

My chief concern is that one of the cats would decide to use the organ speaker cover as a scratch pad. I also plan on getting another puppy someday and wouldn't want the pooch to chew away on the pedals. Probably an attractive custom-fitted cover is the way to go.

No reason that a custom cover could not cover both the organ and bench all the way to the floor as well and protect the entire thing.

If you are only worried about the front and pedals, how about a window shade? You could get one of those roll up ones and affix it under the keyboard...roll it down when the organ is idle, and simply retract it when you play. If it is one of those heavy vinyl ones, the kitty would not be able to scratch it.
You could affix another one under the bench at the heel rest...pull it out to cover the pedals when not in use.
You could always store a vacuum cleaner next to the organ...our pets hated that thing and would run the other way whenever it was taken out of the closet:->

This is fun.

Bob

[Doctor Robert]

No reason that a custom cover could not cover both the organ and bench all the way to the floor as well and protect the entire thing.
Bob

That is how I am protecting it now, except that it requires two mismatching heavy quilts to cover the organ from top to bottom (including pedals and bench). Are there companies that manufacture organ covers? Something attractive and high-quality? It would seem there would be, but...

[Darth-Car]

Talk to a marine interior restoration shop. They can make all kinds of things that are attractive yet sturdy to hold up to the elements. Surprisingly they are much more financially reasonable to work with than automotive interior restoration shops.

[Bobmann]

That is how I am protecting it now, except that it requires two mismatching heavy quilts to cover the organ from top to bottom (including pedals and bench). Are there companies that manufacture organ covers? Something attractive and high-quality? It would seem there would be, but...

Look at CraigsList or a local bullitin board web site. There are certainly people in your area with the necessary tools and talent to do this.
A couple years ago I mentioned the need for a Leslie cover to a friend who know a woman at his church that did such things. I got a beautiful custom fitted quilted Leslie cover for $50. My Mom could have done this for me for cost of material, as she made clothes for us kids, but unfortunately she passed years ago.
To someone capable of making clothing, a cover like this would be pretty simple.

Bob

[Doctor Robert]

I found this organ cover online which sounds like just the thing. The next step is to find the material as well as a local seamstress to make it for me. If I were to buy the one pictured above, it would cost me $400., however, I think finding someone local will be much less expensive. But if all else fails, I will bite the bullet and buy the aforementioned one.

[Bobmann]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]31578[/ATTACH]

I found this organ cover online which sounds like just the thing. The next step is to find the material as well as a local seamstress to make it for me. If I were to buy the one pictured above, it would cost me $400., however, I think finding someone local will be much less expensive. But if all else fails, I will bite the bullet and buy the aforementioned one.

It may be obvious, but just make sure that what you get online will fit your D152. The one in the picture looks like it is made for a B3 and without a bench.

Bob

[Doctor Robert]

Indeed you are right. It will need to be custom fitted.