<html> At 02:09 PM 1/30/2003 -0800, you wrote: <blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>Yo list-     I'm afraid that in lacquering a set of Steinway D hammers I started with too weak a solution(5:1), and now after multiple lacquerings I still have no "punch" in the treble from about E56 to the top.  The lacquer (3 and 4:1) at this point is just not penetrating to the tip of the molding as has been suggested in many of the fine and eminently valuable posts I've been poring over lo these many months. What's a tuner to do? I can hear that the sound is weak or "hollow" in the treble compared to the lower end, but am frustrated because I feel that I need to get something deep into the hammer but it ain't goin' there. Any suggestions would be most welcome.  Steve Kabat</blockquote> I'm not sure that we'd agree on how much hardener should be used, but if you want to get it further into the core of the hammer, why don't you apply it from the sides? Susan</html>