"Bugs" wrote in message
oups.com...
NO . . NO . .NO
Do not use a solvent to remove the vaseline. You will only remove the
finish.
Padding & French polishing with shellac will remove the vaseline just
as it removes the oil in the final stages of French Polishing. Do a lot
of practicing before you try it on the piano, but it is a skill well
worth learning.

Alcohol is poor solvent for Vaseline, but a good one for shellac. Paint
thinner is a good solvent for Vaseline, and does nothing to shellac, which
is why it can be used as a lube for wet sanding, evaporating quickly without
risking water under the finish.

I generally just remove excess polishing oil with mineral spirits rather
than a rag.