Wide Variety
Schimmel offers a wide variety of different woods, finishes and colors. Details concerning which versions are available will be found on the web pages on which the instruments in question are illustrated. Your Schimmel dealer will be happy to answer any further questions you might have. The important features of the various types of finishes are described in the following paragraphs.

Polished Finishes
These finishes are based on lacquer systems with polyester materials. Their special feature is the high gloss on the top side of the coat of lacquer*, achieved by buffing. These finishes are relatively easy to care for in daily use and resistent against many household chemicals. Slight accumulations of dust/dirt and fingerprints are best removed with a soft cloth or chamois***.

Automobile-Lacquer Finish
This finish consists of high-gloss acrylic materials and is used by us for the Pegasus instruments and the legs of the CC 213 A grand. Their special feature is the high gloss of the top coat of transparent acrylic lacquer*. Their durability corresponds to that of any top-quality automobile lacquer. The usual products for cleaning and polishing automobile lacquer are suitable, used with a soft cloth or chamois***.

Satin Hand-Rubbed Finishes
Any instrument available in polished can be made in a fine satin hand-rubbed finish as well. Please ask your Schimmel dealer. The classic elegance of these finishes has a long tradition particularly in the U.S. They consist of a primer coat on a polyester basis and top coats of a softer lacquer. Their special feature is the hand-rubbed "dull shine" of the top coat of lacquer**. In daily use, these finishes are relatively insensitive and easy to care for. Their durability corresponds to that of lacquer finishes on furniture. Slight accumulations of dust/dirt and fingerprints are best removed with a soft cloth or chamois***.

Filled Satin Finishes (Sprayed)
These finishes consist of a primer coat on a polyester basis and top coats of a special lacquer. Their special feature is the satin effect of the top coat of lacquer, achieved by spraying. In daily use, these finishes are very sensitive and exhibit a tendency to develop shiny spots. Slight accumulations of dust/dirt and fingerprints must be removed very cautiously. Best suited for cleaning and polishing are products for the care of satin-finish furniture, used with a soft chamois***.

Semi-Filled and Open-Pore Satin Finishes (Sprayed)
These finishes have a long tradition particularly in Germany. They consist of a two-component primer and top coats of special lacquers. Their special feature is the satin effect of the top coat of lacquer achieved by spraying, with either slightly filled pores (semi filled) or a considerably more prominent pore structure (open pore). Both variations are reasonably insensitive in daily use. Their durability corresponds to that of comparable furniture finishes. Slight accumulations of dust/dirt and fingerprints must be removed cautiously**. Best suited for this purpose are products for cleaning and polishing open-pore furniture finishes, used with a soft chamois***.

Waxed Lacquer Finishes
These finishes are based on a material containing wax. Their special feature is the open-pore structure of the finish and the naturalness of the surface of the wood. For removing slight accumulations of dust/dirt, any of the usual products for cleaning and polishing waxed furniture are suitable.


Tips


Dust
All finishes attract dust more or less. This is particularly true of polyester lacquers. Avoid too-frequent cleaning and polishing and hard rubbing, as this causes the finish to become charged with static electricity, temporarily increasing the attraction of dust. For the occasional removal of small accumulations of dust, a soft feather duster is suitable.


*Polished Finishes
The normal aging process, frequent touching of the same areas, hard rubbing etc. cause dull spots. As long as this problem is not allowed to become too serious, the finish can be easily repolished (buffed) by a professional refinisher.

**Satin Finishes
The normal aging process, frequent touching of the same areas, wet or greasy fingers, excessive cleaning and hard rubbing etc. cause shiny spots. As long as this problem is not allowed to become too serious, a rubbed filled satin finish can usually be easily patched by a professional refinisher. With a non-rubbed (but spayed) satin finish, the removal of shiny spots as a rule requires that the cabinet be partially or even completely resprayed.

***Cleaning Cloths and Chamois
Cleaning cloths and chamois must be soft and clean. When used for cleaning, they should be moistened with water to which a few drops of dishwashing detergent or an antistatic cleaning fluid have been added. For cleaning satin finishes, a product made for this purpose should be used.

****Cleaning Agents
We recommend name-brand cleaning agents which have stood the test of time and which are neither chemically nor mechanically aggressive. They should be used sparingly, following the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid using sprays, nor should cleaning agents in liquid form be allowed to drip into the inside of the instrument, as this could cause damage to the sound-producing portion and/or keyboard-and-action assembly.