Our Workshop: Dust Extraction

Every piano offered by Sykes & Sons has been meticulously prepared in our fully equipped, climate-controlled workshop, which is designed to create the optimal environment for the care and restoration of these exquisite instruments. In this dedicated space, our specialist technicians apply their extensive knowledge and expertise to work with each piano individually, using high-end equipment, to ensure that every detail is attended to with the utmost care.

Once a piano is selected for remedial work, it is carefully transported here, where it undergoes a series of meticulously planned corrective stages before being returned to its owners or offered for sale on our shop floor. The first step in the reconditioning process is a thorough cleaning, a very important process in which our technicians employ the use of highly specialised equipment to remove all the dust which has accumulated inside the piano during its lifetime.

Dust is an inevitability of everyday life, an omnipresent element that infiltrates every household, regardless of how clean or organised one strives to be. Dust travels as far as the air can take it - propelled by the slightest drafts, breezes, and movements - until it finally falls out of suspension and settles, silently accumulating in places both hidden and seen. It finds its way into the tiniest crevices, including those of the piano.

Our insistence and meticulous attention to detail in removing dust from pianos raises an important question...

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Why is the careful extraction of dust so crucial in our reconditioning process?

Dust may seem like a mere inconvenience and source of minor frustration, but its implications extend far beyond just simple aesthetics. The dust found in our homes is a complex and diverse mixture of various particles. Household dust typically includes a variety of natural and synthetic textile fibres from our clothing, carpets, and soft furnishings, as well as organic compounds such as soil particles, shed skin cells, pet dander, and other allergens, including plant pollen. Compounds from our wider environment, such as soot, ash, chemicals, and microplastics, are also commonly found in dust. Moreover, dust can also harbour a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and mould spores, which can pose significant health risks with repeated exposure, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems or pre-existing respiratory conditions.

It might be surprising to learn that studies of household dust show that traces of lead and even asbestos are not too uncommon in houses which predate the stringent regulations that govern the use of these materials today. Lead was widely utilised in various types of paints as a pigment to create a broad spectrum of vibrant colours. Beyond aesthetics, lead served multiple functional purposes: it accelerated drying times, which was particularly advantageous for painters and builders, increased the durability of the paint, and helped to resist moisture, thereby extending the life of surfaces painted with lead-based products. As for asbestos, this naturally occurring mineral was incorporated into a myriad of building materials due to its remarkable properties, including heat resistance, sound absorption, and tensile strength. It was commonly used in products such as flooring tiles, roofing materials, insulation, and lagging for pipes and boilers. The versatility of asbestos made it a favoured choice in construction and manufacturing for many decades, leading to its widespread presence in homes built before the late 20th century.

As scientific research unveiled the severe health implications linked to lead exposure, such as neurological damage, particularly in children, and the carcinogenic nature of asbestos, which is associated with diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis, legislation was implemented to restrict and eventually ban their use. The introduction of safety regulations aimed to protect public health and ensure safer living environments, yet the legacy of these materials lingers in many older homes.

The presence of lead and/or asbestos in a piano can usually be explained by the instrument being in proximity to past projects, such as construction, refurbishments, structural repairs, or DIY endeavours where the substances were added, removed, or otherwise disturbed, and the dust eventually settled inside the instrument.

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Dust extraction in the Sykes & Sons Workshop

The Sykes & Sons Workshop deals with various pianos, each containing its own individual blend of dust. To mitigate the potential risks associated with dust exposure while working on pianos, Sykes & Sons has significantly invested in high-end equipment and has implemented rigorous safety protocols to ensure that all dust (regardless of its composition) can be extracted from the pianos safely and efficently, in a manner compliant with all the relevant health and safety regulations.

Sykes & Sons use only specialised, high-powered vacuums which are equipped with certified H-Class filtration systems. The H-Class designation indicates that these vacuums meet stringent standards of safety and efficiency, ensuring that even the most hazardous materials are effectively captured and contained during the cleaning process. Vacuums with lower levels of filtration could still let through and exhaust millions of particles per cubic foot of air circulated.

In addition to their advanced filtration capabilities, our vacuums also feature anti-static technology, which minimises the buildup of static electricity in the systems that could create an arc, igniting the contents of the extractors. This is crucial for maintaining the highest safety standards around flammable dust.

Our specialised vacuums are not only used to extract the existing dust inside new arrivals, but are also connected to the other equipment in our workshop, such as drills, saws, routers, and sanders, to ensure that the fine particulate matter which is created while processing materials during the restoration process is also effectively managed. This connection to our machinery greatly reduces the risk of repeated inhalation, which is the leading cause of occupational disease among woodworkers.

In addition to protecting our health, the effective management of wood dust also contributes to the quality of our craftsmanship. By minimising dust accumulation on surfaces and tools, we ensure that our equipment operates at optimal performance levels, which is vital for precision in woodworking. A clean workspace not only enhances the longevity of our tools but also allows for a more accurate and refined finishing process, resulting in superior outcomes for our restoration projects.

Our commitment to health and safety is driven by our understanding of potential hazards and our commitment to excellence and responsibility in the reconditioning of pianos.

Sykes & Sons also believes that this comprehensive approach to reconditioning is essential for delivering a safe and high-quality product that our customers can trust to have in their home.