Water damage to top of wooden piano

Jackie Collins
by Jackie Collins
I messed up and caused this damage with a plant. The 'bubbles' are hard, and would crack if pressure applied. Any ideas??
Beside the bubbles, the darkness is from water as well.
I don't know the type of wood. The warp is very thin
  11 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 15, 2016
    To aid in the water stain try rubbing coconut or olive oil with a soft cloth.
  • Barbara Barbara on May 15, 2016
    I've never seen wood bubble like that (my daughter famously spills on everything) unless its a wood veneer. To obtain a flat finish, you might have to replace the entire veneer on the top of the piano. I'd have a furniture appraiser take a look at it up close before I started just to make sure.
  • Gina Gina on May 15, 2016
    Coconut oil is the best for reclaiming old wood finishes and I bet it would work on this. Spread with the oil, let it sit for a while and if it softens up put a cloth with a heavy book on it for a few days.
  • Eileen Proctor Eileen Proctor on May 15, 2016
    It looks like it's the veneer that's bubbled, maybe apply some heat... such as with an iron over a cloth and then weight it down good with something heavy while it is still warm until it is cold and it might well stick back down.
  • William William on May 15, 2016
    It is veneer! The hot iron idea Eileen proposed may work. If it doesn't you may have to squeeze some glue under the veneer and use the towel and iron. If all else fails you may need to replace the veneer. You will need to peel of the veneer and sand the area smooth. There is veneer available in sheets with heat activated glue or glue a thin hardwood panel of the same type wood over the complete area and stain it as close to the finish of the piano.
  • Bobbie Bobbie on May 15, 2016
    I had a retro table top that did that. I put a good quality oil on it and covered it with a terry cloth towel. Then I got my iron out and put it on med heat and set it on the towel over the bubble to soften it up and to slowly "relax" the bubble to make it flat again. It takes patience but it was worth it. All I can see now is a small crease. Hope this helps.
  • Kathi Schaffeld Kathi Schaffeld on May 15, 2016
    google repair veneer. I believe it will involve some glue under the raised veneer, and some strong clamps over a board to squeeze the veneer into place. Seems like I've read about soaking it prior to the camping also, but I know I've found advice on google. I'm redoing an old sewing machine.
  • Barbara Barbara on May 15, 2016
    I refinished a piano that had been stored in a barn for years & it had a similar problem. I took a damp (not wet) towel & placed it on top. Heated the cloth with a medium heat iron until it flattened out. Then I clamped a board over the area & let it sit for a week or so. Problem solved. I was able to remove the finish & restain/seal. It's held up for over 25 years. The inside repairs were done by a professional (very expensive) but after 20 years in the barn the working parts were shot. This was a gift to my husband whose grandparents transported that piano across the US in a covered wagon in about 1902 from the east coast to N. Dakota to Oregon.
  • Jackie Collins Jackie Collins on May 16, 2016
    I'm working with all of your suggestions. I'll take some pictures in a few days, when the process is finished. Thank you all!
  • Barbara Barbara on May 16, 2016
    It probably took about 5 minutes with the iron.
  • Susan Susan on May 17, 2016
    Also try laying a heavy towel on it and iron it with hot iron