Paul Tizzard wrote, >>"Last week I assessed a piano at a local school that has all of the hammer rail screws "frozen" in the rail. The school is near the coast and the piano is in their hall. There is definitely a lot of moisture around generally. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to free the screws? I know heat is going to be involved, but what tools etc do you suggest? Are there any other possibilities? ">>>> Hello Paul, When you have heated the screws, give them a short sharp whack with the screwdriver inserted using a small hammer. This may break any bonding as well. After doing this, apply pressure with the screwdriver first clockwise as if you were trying to make it tighter, and then apply pressure anticlockwise. Keep going forwards and backwards like this until there are wider and wider movements of the screwhead. You will get a feel as to when the screw is turning in the wood as against the head just twisting. Also there is a product there called Wynne's Pry and Dry. Give those screws a liberal dousing before you start. By the way, are you the tech I borrowed a tuning lever from for 10 minutes when I was playing a piano at a nearby bistro one night and some loose tuning pins just let go on me? Did you work at a place called Pianoland in Main Rd, Claremont about 15 years ago? It's just that the name is very familiar. You probably know another tech called Nol Klinkhamer (originally from Holland) whose surname is very apt for that of a piano tuner! Regards Alan Forsyth Edinburgh
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