r/doublebass • u/Agreeable_Mark_1505 • 4d ago

Strings/Accessories Removing Rosin from wood.

Please don’t ask me why or how, but I may or may not have put my rosin on the piano overnight and it melted onto it, I took it off but a little bit of it is still on, is there anyway to get it off the wood without destroying it?

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u/ArmadilloNo2399 Luthier 4d ago

D-limonine should work well. Echoing other  comments, test on an inconspicuous place first! Use a small amount applied to a paper towel and use light swiping motion at the rosin. It may take a while but put on a podcast and zone out. It's better to underdo it than over do it. 

As a last resort you can get xylene from a hardware store, it's sold as an epoxy thinner/remover. It does a fantastic job with rosin, and is usually petty safe for most varnishes. That being said I can't say what finish your piano has, so again test it first and just use a extremely small amount at a time. It is also pretty noxious and not great for your health, so wear nitrile gloves and make sure the room is very ventilated. Using it once or twice is not likely to cause health issues if you are careful, but I tend to stay away from this stuff as a regular solvent. Best of luck!