In a message dated 6/22/00 2:44:46 PM Central Daylight Time, Pianogreig@AOL.COM writes: << I've never before encountered a spinet (in this case a 1963 W****T***) with all hammers so sluggish that moving them toward the strings by hand results in many floating back to rest & many at the extreme ends just staying at the string. Protek on hammer flanges showed little or no result; key bushings are not binding; strengthening return springs also had little effect. Piano was not played or tuned for about 10 years. Any suggestions - aside from replacing it with a decent piano? (owner says it really has a beautiful tone, of course). >> Bruce, My suggestion - Apply 50/50 alchohol/water solution in applicator bottle to flange bushing cloth. Take aim and zip the solution across the span of the butts in 3 seconds or less. Drape a blanket over action out of piano and put one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, etc., hairdryers under the "tent." Check intermittently for results and don't leave them running for too long with the action unchecked. Your actual time involvement in the project should be 10 minutes or so. This is sooooo easy. Any numskull can do it. Joel Swafford
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