Fine Piano Refinisher — Piano Artisans Inc. (Orange, CA)
Location: Orange, CA
Type: Full-time
Compensation: $65,000–$85,000 DOE + performance bonus up to $15,000–$20,000/year
Total potential earnings: $100,000+
Relocation package available
About the Role
Piano Artisans Inc. (pianoartisans.com) is a specialized heirloom piano restoration atelier producing some of the finest instrument refinishes in the country. We restore 20–26 grand pianos per year for serious collectors and institutions — instruments that demand the same level of finish quality as fine furniture or museum-grade lacquerwork.
We are looking for a refinisher who takes genuine pride in surface prep, has mastered the full spray process, and gets satisfaction from a finish that is indistinguishable from the original.
What You'll Do:
Sand, prep, and spray lacquer and polyurethane finishes on grand piano cabinetry (both water and solvent-based systems)
Apply and hand-brush ebony satin finishes to period-correct specifications
Polish and compound high-gloss lacquer to a mirror finish — no haze, no swirl, no compromise
Match historical case finishes across gloss levels: high-gloss, satin, and semi-gloss
Execute full refinish sequences: stripping, filling, sealing, color coats, clear coats, and final buffing
Work with complex cabinet geometry — curved lids, legs, fallboards, music desks
Identify and troubleshoot grain raising, fisheye, orange peel, and other surface defects
Maintain finishing equipment and spray environment to professional standards
Who We're Looking For:
5–10 years of hands-on refinishing experience: piano finishing, high-end fine furniture, or automotive paint and prep
Proven experience brushing ebony satin finishes and polishing high-gloss work to a show-quality standard
Deep fluency with lacquers and polyurethanes — both solvent and water-based systems
Expert-level surface preparation: sanding sequences, grain fill, sealing, and scuffing between coats
Comfortable mixing and adjusting materials for consistent, repeatable results
Meticulous and unhurried — you don't rush a coat because the schedule says to
Handles direct, high-standards feedback well and holds yourself to the same standard
What We Offer:
Base salary: $65,000–$85,000 DOE
Performance bonus: up to $15,000–$20,000/year based on output and quality
401(k) with company match
Health insurance
Relocation package available
Hands-on mentorship and additional training with a master refinisher
The opportunity to work on rare, historically significant instruments
"We work on instruments that matter to people. That means the finish has to be right — not almost right. If you're someone who can't look away from an imperfection and won't stop until it's fixed, you'll fit in here."
How to Apply (Two-Track Process):
Please send your application with all three of the following:
Your resume
Photos OR written description of your work:
Track A (Preferred): 3–5 photos of your best finished pieces — furniture, pianos, automotive, etc.
Track B (No photos): A detailed written description of 2–3 projects, including the finish system used, challenges you encountered, and how you solved them.
A short answer to this question: What's the hardest finishing defect you've ever had to troubleshoot, and what did you do to solve it?
Applications missing either the photos/description or the short answer will not be considered.
Visit pianoartisans.com to see examples of our work.
Piano Artisans Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and especially encourages applications from career changers, military veterans, and experienced craftspeople from automotive or furniture backgrounds.
